PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Nov 20: Telecom major- Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has started extending its Public Data Office (PDO), an economical and cost-effective Wi-Fi service in rural hinterland.
As a part of it, BSNL’s Jamshedpur Business Area (BA) has set-up the first BSNL Public Data Office in East Singhbhum district.
The first PDO, an economical Wi-Fi service for rural areas came up at Khukradih under Hitku panchayat at Narwa pahar in East Singhbhum.
BSNL is delivering high speed internet data through Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (WANI) in those areas where high speed internet is not available.
PM-WANI Scheme announced by the department of communication was introduced to increase the Wi-Fi access throughout the country at affordable price to gap the digital-divide that exists between urban and rural population.
General Manager of BSNL’s Jamshedpur Business Area, Sanjeev Verma said that the Public Data Office is a retail hotspot location where good numbers of footfall are involved where users can walk-in and use high speed internet service connectivity through Wi-Fi.
The Wi-Fi service will be available in a radius of 100 to 150 meters from the hotspot which is located in a PDO. PDO may be a retailers shop, grocery store or even tea stalls.
Elaborating further on the project, Verma said the new Wi-Fi scheme will soon come up at Baharagora, Ghatshila, Chandil and other rural areas under Jamshedpur Business Area.
As per the tariff plan 1 GB data will be available at Rs 9 for 1 day validity while 3 GB data for three days will be available at Rs 19. Similarly, 7 GB data for seven days at Rs 39, 15 GB data for 15 days at Rs 59 and 30 GB data for 30 days at Rs 69.