Shimla Municipal Corporation to provide free Wi-Fi for a week

Shimla Municipal Corporation would provide free Wi-Fi services for a week during the Shimla International Summer Festival commencing on June 1.

SMC Deputy Mayor Takinder Panwar today told reporters that the services would be available in 150 mt area on Ridge from Scandal point and Christ Church.

The pilot project would be launched tomorrow evening and any person can use the facility in the specified area till June 7, Panwar said.

A pass-key would be sent on user's registered mobile number to enable him to avail the free Wi-Fi service which would provide access into the Wi-Fi homepage in compliance with all security norms, he said.

The facility could be used for two hours every day till June 7 and the speed would be 1mbps with data storage of 7 GB, which implied that the user can download four Hindi movies, said Panwar.

After connecting to the Wi-Fi, the users would land on the SMC Facebook page where they can also write their comments about the facility, he said, adding that this has been done to get feedback on the new facility provided to the people as the SMC has planned to build 25-30 hotspots in future.

Panwar said these hotspots would cater as the citizens service centres for the local residents and the tourists from where they could go to a portal to get birth and death certificates and other works.

The Free Wi-Fi service will cover areas adjoining the Ridge, the Scandal point and parts of central Mall Road and seven access routers (access points) have been installed at Padam Dev Complex, State Library, HPMC counter, Ashiana Hotel, Gaiety theater, Old SMC building and Scandal point.

The range of each router covered an approximate area of 150m radius where the general public would be able to avail free Wifi services.