Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal launched free WiFi hotspot scheme on Thursday, while internet was shutdown in several parts of the city.
CM Kejriwal launched the scheme at ITO bus stand and his deputy Manish Sisodia launched the scheme at the Vishwavidyalaya Metro station. Speaking to the media, he said “it is an irony that the day we started the free internet scheme, the internet services are being shut in the city. We hope that the situation will be soon brought under control.”
As part of Kejriwal’s poll promise of providing free internet in the city, more than 100 hotspots were given to the national capital.
The government plans to complete the first phase of setting up 11,000 hotspots in 6 months.
The speed of WiFi will vary between 80 Mbps to 200 Mbps depending upon the density in that particular area. Every hotspot can simultaneously be accessed by 200 individuals, which means that a maximum of 22 lakh individuals can access WiFi once the first phase is completed. The distance between two WiFi hotspots will be 500 meters.
On Thursday, the government asked telecommunication authorities to suspend internet, voice and call services in several areas of Delhi including ITO and Mandi house in wake of massive protests in the capital against Citizenship amendment act. In a response to one of the users, Bharti Airtel confirmed that voice, internet and SMS services were disrupted as per directives from the government.