Wi-Fi set to invade homes

AHMEDABAD: WI-FI hotels or wi-fi malls? Why go so far. Now Internet service providers (ISPs) are gearing up to bring the service to your home. In a bid to offer relatively cheaper, hassle-free and wireless connectivity to residents, ISPs have got busy setting up infrastructure for the same. At present, ISPs have leading head honchos as their clients, but they soon plan to cover middle-class households across the country. “

As commercial market saturates, service providers are actively working towards offering wi-fi connectivity to households,” says VSNL Gujarat regional operations manager Darpan Garg. Agrees Heeral Shah of New Gen Technologies: “The market for wi-fi in homes indeed has a great potential. To some extent, the work has already started.”

Anar Softcom of Surat is one such ISP with a large clientele. “The new housing set-ups like apartments, cooperative groups have started preferring wireless technology over cables. Though the cost largely depends upon the distance, size and location of your house, wi-fi connectivity can be acquired at as low as Rs 1,500. For bigger set-ups like housing colonies, the cost may be a little over 10% as compared to Internet cable connection. But in the long run, it works out to be cheaper,” informs Anar Softcom CEO Umesh Naik.

The company is also planning to provide its 17,000-plus clients with wireless connectivity by the end of next year. “This includes around 1,500 SMEs and large corporates. We will lay down around 700km of underground wires in the city for the same,” adds Naik.

Wi-fi not only turns out to be cheaper, but is also multi-functional. “A wi-fi connection at home turns out to be a cheaper option. It’s a one-time installation with a cost of Rs 2,000-3,000, depending upon the area. It not only enables every computer in the house to connect with the Net, but also sets up a LAN within the premises, says Sanghvi InfoTech’s Jigar Sanghvi.