Bagalkot logs on to free Wi-Fi in college zone
Small town in N Karnataka becomes the second city to offer the facility after Bangalore
Bagalkot in north Karnataka has the dubious distinction of being the malaria capital of the state. But the small town, whose old areas were submerged partially in the waters of theAlmatti reservoir , became the first district after state capital Bangalore to get free Wi-Fi service last week.
Free Wi-Fi service in Bangalore has been provided in areas around thecentral business district (CBD) like MG Road and Brigade Road, besides Shanthi Nagar and Koramangala Traffic and Transit Management Centres (TTMCs). But the IT department has chosen to implement Wi-Fi in Bagalkot in a locality buzzing with tech students. Students and the public at large have been provided with three hours of free internet surfing at a speed of 512 KB. “It is a momentous occasion for a city like Bagalkot. Today, it is the second city after Bangalore — the tech capital of the country — to access free Wi-Fi service,” state information technology (IT), biotechnology(BT), and science and technology minister S R Patil said. Incidentally, Bagalkot is the home town of Patil.
BAGALKOT SCORES IN DURATION
Though Bangalore is the first city in the state to get free Wi-Fi, it has ceded ground to Bagalkot in terms of the duration of the service. The student community as well as the public at Bagalkot get to enjoy three hours of free internet in a day, while the service is only available for half an hour in Bangalore! According to the minister, technical glitches have come in the way of providing three hours of free Wi-Fi service every day in Bangalore.
Patil said, “Initially, even in Bangalore we wanted to provide the service for three hours. In fact during the initial days, we provided three hours of free internet. But since the last few months, we are restricting it to half an hour every day due to some technical problems. We are, however, consulting service providers and will be able to resolve the matter soon.”
When BM asked whether Bagalkot was favoured since it was his hometown, the minister said, “There was no partisan intention. All cities are equal.”
Patil also revealed that soon many other places in Bangalore will be covered under free Wi-Fi facility. “Already we have provided free Wi-Fi service on MG Road, Brigade Road, and Shanthi Nagar and Koramangala TTMCs. The Mysore Road, Shivajinagar, Jayanagar, Banashankari and Vijayanagar bus stands will also be brought under Wi-Fi service. We are preparing to roll out tenders.”
Bagalkot in north Karnataka has the dubious distinction of being the malaria capital of the state. But the small town, whose old areas were submerged partially in the waters of the
Free Wi-Fi service in Bangalore has been provided in areas around the
After successfully experimenting with Wi-Fi in a commercial area like MG Road in Bangalore, the IT department wanted to test the service in an education hub. Bagalkot thus came into the picture. “Two places in Bagalkot, Vidyagiri and the Deputy Commissioner’s office complex, have been provided with free internet services. The well-known Basaveshwar Engineering College is located in Vidyagiri, besides other educational institutes. More than 400 students have been making use of the facility since the launch,” Patil said.
BAGALKOT SCORES IN DURATION
Though Bangalore is the first city in the state to get free Wi-Fi, it has ceded ground to Bagalkot in terms of the duration of the service. The student community as well as the public at Bagalkot get to enjoy three hours of free internet in a day, while the service is only available for half an hour in Bangalore! According to the minister, technical glitches have come in the way of providing three hours of free Wi-Fi service every day in Bangalore.
Patil said, “Initially, even in Bangalore we wanted to provide the service for three hours. In fact during the initial days, we provided three hours of free internet. But since the last few months, we are restricting it to half an hour every day due to some technical problems. We are, however, consulting service providers and will be able to resolve the matter soon.”
When BM asked whether Bagalkot was favoured since it was his hometown, the minister said, “There was no partisan intention. All cities are equal.”
Patil also revealed that soon many other places in Bangalore will be covered under free Wi-Fi facility. “Already we have provided free Wi-Fi service on MG Road, Brigade Road, and Shanthi Nagar and Koramangala TTMCs. The Mysore Road, Shivajinagar, Jayanagar, Banashankari and Vijayanagar bus stands will also be brought under Wi-Fi service. We are preparing to roll out tenders.”
