Chennai beaches to get new Wi-Fi poles, 45 minutes of free Internet daily

Chennai, Aug 9 (IANS) Visitors to some of Chennai’s most popular beaches will soon be able to access free Internet, with the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) planning to install 107 new Wi-Fi-enabled smart poles along the city’s coastline.

The expanded public Wi-Fi facility is expected to become operational in September and will provide users with up to 45 minutes of free Internet access every day.

Under the project, Marina Beach will receive 75 new Wi-Fi poles, while 20 will be installed at Besant Nagar and 10 at Tiruvanmiyur through Airtel.

The infrastructure will be funded by service providers as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

The expansion comes amid concerns over the poor performance of several existing public Wi-Fi facilities in the city. Users have complained that their mobile phones often connect to the available networks but fail to access the Internet. Reliable connectivity at beaches is considered particularly useful for visitors who need to make Internet-based calls, send messages, book cabs, use digital payment services or contact family members in crowded areas.

The GCC introduced Wi-Fi smart poles at 49 locations in 2021, allowing users 30 minutes of free Internet access following OTP verification. However, connectivity reportedly deteriorated over time, prompting complaints from users. As part of efforts to improve the system, the civic body is also planning an overhaul of nearly 2,600 existing smart poles spread across about 900 locations, including public parks, hospitals and government offices.

Internet service providers have been directed to repair damaged infrastructure and ensure better connectivity.

GCC Commissioner G.S. Sameeran said 38 Wi-Fi poles are currently being maintained by ACT Fibernet and Reliance Jio along Marina and Besant Nagar beaches.

The concerned private service providers have been asked to expand public Wi-Fi coverage. The Corporation has also sought usage data from ACT Fibernet to assess Internet consumption patterns and monitor how the public was using the service.

Cybersecurity will be another key challenge as the network expands. Users have called for strong safeguards to prevent hacking, data theft and other security breaches on open public networks.

The success of the initiative will ultimately depend on whether the expanded infrastructure can provide stable connectivity while ensuring adequate protection for users’ personal information.

–IANS

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