BSNL to launch wi-fi facility at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine tomorrow

NEW DELHI: State-run BSNL will launch wi-fi facility at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine on Thursday, its 1,000th hotspot in the country.

Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will launch the facility from Delhi.

BSNL had planned to set up 2,500 wi-fi hotspots in 250 locations at a cost of Rs 500 crore in the current fiscal.

A couple of days back, the customs department had cleared another 750 hotspots which will be set up in the next few days, according to a BSNL official.

The official said the telecom company will set up as many hotspots as possible in the next 15 days to meet the target.

As part of the Digital India programme, the government is working towards enabling all cities, with a population of over one million, tourist centres and religious places with wi-fi hotspots.

BSNL usually provides free wi-fi services for 30 minutes and after the free usage limit is exhausted, the user has to buy subscription plans which are available in various denomination.