'Bangalore Unwired' launch in mid-April

Srinivas R

BANGALORE: The much-awaited `Bangalore unwired’ project is set to see the light of the day. The IT department of Karnataka is inviting industry captains and media to test the Wi-Fi zone next week.

“We are planning to take IT industry captains and media in and around M G Road in an open bus in second week of April. A wide screen will be attached to a laptop and we carry out live demo of the connectivity, said M N Vidyashankar, Karnataka’s IT secretary.

The government has selected Arasor, an US-based developer of integrated optoelectronic and wireless solutions company, which has its operation in Bangalore to provide the service.

“Earlier Bangalore unwired project was to cover only 223 square meters. In the new plan, we are expanding this to 743 square meters under Greater Bangalore plan. We are in the process of selecting another service provider to provide the connectivity to the expanded area,” he said.

Meanwhile, the state IT department has already worked out a pricing model for the same. “We are announcing this shortly,” said Vidyashankar.

“The model for Bangalore Unwired project was worked out by Prof Sadagopan. We didn’t want to offer connectivity in bits and pieces like some of the US cities. Bangalore will become the second city in the world to cover such a vast area,” he said.

Currently Taipei is the only one, which offer wireless connectivity all across the city.

© CyberMedia News