Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has launched a free Wi-Fi service in Hazratganj market, Lucknow, in collaboration with Reliance Jio Infocomm. The politician also announced plans for more hotspots around the city and in tourist destinations across the state.
The high-speed network was inaugurated during Lucknow’s Ganjing Festival. It’s been installed through fiber optics that promises speeds of 5 – 10Mbps, supposedly faster than the 2 – 3Mbps provided by wireless Wi-Fi. The free offering covers a 100-meter radius and will be able to connect up to 1700 people at one time.
To access the network, a consumer has to enter a One Time Password (OTP). Mahendra Nahata, the director of Reliance Jio Infocomm, clarified that people have to re-enter their OTP every 20 minutes for security reasons. The pass is valid for 24 hours, after which a new one will be generated.
The facility is free for now but will be charged when it’s launched commercially. According to ETTelecom, the Hazratganj bazaar has become the first non-metro market in the country to have Wi-Fi services. Reliance Jio had earlier conducted pilot projects in Ahmedabad and other metros in Gujarat to understand user patterns.
Its observation revealed that free Wi-Fi zones were popular with students who wanted to use the high-speed fiber optic network for downloading a variety of content such as study materials, movies and apps. The telecom operator further found people using the service to get in touch with relatives abroad through Skype.
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Based on its findings, the new service has been rolled out in Hazratganj market keeping shopkeepers, traders, visitors and the youth in mind. Reliance Jio will also be unveiling 4G facilities in Uttar Pradesh soon, as per the Times of India.