The smart city agency has also begun mapping everyday users in various locations to enhance accessibility in surrounding areas
Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL) has decided to update its city Wi-Fi service by providing greater speed and additional download limits to residents on a daily basis after failing to attract enough customers to it as part of the Smart City Mission in the state capital.
The smart city agency has also begun mapping everyday users in various locations to enhance accessibility in surrounding areas. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the agency that had suspended the service reinstated it fully at 1,550 access points spread throughout more than 500 locations in the city.
BSCL said the high-speed service coupled with a higher download limit has started attracting more users. Following the move, the daily usage limit which used to be around 10 to 15 GB has now exceeded 100 GB. Similarly, the number of users that used to be in the range of 250 to 300 has multiplied to nearly 1,200 a day and the number is increasing, sources added.
Eight to ten high user points, including Lingaraj station, OUAT SBI branch, Satya Nagar, Ganga Nagar Square, and Master Canteen, have been found based on the mapping of usage in recent years. In order to boost usage and provide smooth connectivity to the populace, the BSCL official added, “We have decided to activate 250 more Wi-Fi points at the identified locations in the coming days.”
With BSCL offering a recharge facility following the consumption of free data limit to users, officials hope of earning revenue out of it. The recharge numbers at present, however, are negligible.
