Struggling to be connected to the internet all the time? Worry not! Getting a WiFi access outside the confines of your homes and offices will no more be a distant dream. The government is working on schemes so that you can buy data from even a grocery shop near your house!
As per a report in The Economic Times, Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT), government-owned telecom research and development centre, has developed a way through which low-cost Wi-Fi solutions will be made possible. This mass market ‘public data office’ (PDO) will be priced under Rs 50,000 to deliver low-cost Wi-Fi solutions.
With this PDO device, even your nearby kirana shop owner or even a roadside vendor will be able to sell Wi-Fi data vouchers, that too at a cost which is as low as Rs 10. The center will unveil the PDO solution on Friday. Last month, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had asked the Department of Telecom (DoT) to change internet service provider (ISP) permit rules. It had also asked the DoT to free up new spectrum bands.
It has also asked for speedy steps to be taken to make Wi-Fi access devices cheaper for WiFi to be made accessible in public places at a cheaper price. This will also lead to boosting broadband penetration in the country.
The involvement of aggregators and small entrepreneurs is being done with an aim to boost employment opportunities and encourage entrepreneurship in rural areas. Aggregators may also be allowed to partner with third-party application/service providers for managing authentication and payment processes for such Wi-Fi services.
