Delhi to go WiFi through PPP

R Jai Krishna

New Delhi



16 October 2007

New Delhi will be soon joining Bangalore and Pune on the WiFi meshed network,

with the government of Delhi planning to install Wifi zones in the capital city.

The WiFi zones are to be established through private-public partnership (PPP)

model.

According to highly placed government officials, the government of NCR, Delhi

sees the WiFi Zones as a large step in providing ubiquitous internet

connectivity that would propel quicker adoption of the e-Governance interfaces

of the government. “Such connectivity would facilitate speedier and secure

business transaction, knowledge and information dissemination, hassle-free

interaction among citizen, business and Government. The establishment of WiFi

xones through public-private partnership would leverage broadband availability

in shops, market places, offices, etc.,” sources said.

Initially, the Government of NCR, Delhi, has notified three hot zones for

WiFi Access coverage. “The Delhi government is in the process of identifying

technology providers to create meshed WiFi zones in Rajiv Chowk area, popularly

called as Connaught Place, South Extension - I and II and Nehru Place. The

potential benefit from this includes easier access to Internet Services thereby

increasing the ease of communications on the move and availability of

information in the said zone,” the officials said.

The private partner will be entrusted with designing, implementing and

operating the Internet access using WiFi Hot Zone Outdoor Infrastructure, and to

provide high speed wireless internet access to citizen and tourists - WiFi

enable laptops and personal digital assistance (PDA). The private firm will have

to undertake implementation, integration and commissioning of Wifi Zones. The

company will have to create kiosks at various places for citizen to access

Internet, and will also have maintain and offer technical support for the next

three years.

The government will ensure that the local point of presence will provide

assistance to tourists and other end-users, support the network and configure

their devices should the same be required. “In future these points of presence

may evolve tourist help centers and provide additional value added services.

However, the implementing partner shall have to specify the value added services

that they will be able to provide through these centers. The WiFi vendor/ vendor

partner must guarantee the complete equipment delivery, implementation,

integration and commissioning not later than three months from the award of

contract,” the officials said.

Though only three zones have been notified, the officials said that private

partner will not get the exclusive rights to replicate the similar setup in

other parts of Delhi. Interestingly, the government of NCT of Delhi will not

offer subsidy of any kind to the vendor for meeting the cost of setting up WiFi

mesh zone.

For this purpose, the state government will form a Project Management Group

having representatives of Delhi Government's IT Department, Consortium, NDMC,

Tourism, Power Department and its Agencies (NDPL), DDA, MCD for smooth

implementation of the WiFi Hot Spots.