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.