Tech Telecom

State-run telecom operators Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) together will provide high-speed Wi-Fi hotspots at 100 tourist places across the country. The Union Tourism Ministry has inked agreements with the state-run telecom service providers for the Wi-Fi services for seven years. Under the deal, the Tourism Ministry will be bearing the operational cost for the first three years.

A total of 100 tourist places, including world heritage sites, will be identified where the service will be provided within the next six months, Tourism Secretary Vinod Zutshi said today.

The ministry has already started providing Wi-Fi services at 30 tourist places including Trimula temple in Andhra Pradesh, Bodh Gaya in Bihar, Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh), the ghats of Varanasi, Fatehpur Sikri and Taj Mahal (Uttar Pradesh), while another 70 locations would be added to the list over the next six months, taking the tally to 100.

Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma has repeatedly said that the Centre has accorded top priority to tourism which reaps benefits such as earning foreign exchange, providing employment to the youth and empowering the women.

BSNL alone will invest Rs. 6,000 crore over next three years to provide about 40,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in the country. The company has set a target of 250 locations for 2015-16. BSNL’s chairman-cum-managing director Anupam Shrivastava had earlier said that the telco was rolling out wi-fi hotspot through capital expenditure model also. This will provide tourists to upload photos, and other content instantly.