Reliance Jio expressed a desire to connect close to 38,000 colleges (technical and non-technical) under the HRD ministry across India by deploying free Wi-Fi connectivity.
Through free access to Wi-Fi, students will be able to
get internet connection and use educational resources such as online
courses. (HT File Photo / Representational)
After announcing free phones, Reliance Jio now wants to provide free Wi-Fi to three crore college students across the country.
According to sources in the government, the company has
submitted a proposal in this regard to the human resource development
(HRD) ministry.
Sources further said that the proposal is being examined by
the ministry and a final decision is yet to be taken. However,
officials said any such proposal will have to go through a transparent
tender process.
On the list for free wi-fi
Delhi University
Banaras Hindu University
Aligarh Muslim University
Jamia Milia Islamia University
Central University, Himachal Pradesh
Central University, South Bihar
Central University, Jammu
Last month, a proposal was received by the ministry in
which Reliance Jio expressed a desire to connect close to 38,000
colleges (technical and non-technical) under the HRD ministry across
India by deploying free Wi-Fi connectivity.
“Through this free access to Wi-Fi, all students will be
able to get internet connection and use educational resources such as
online courses available on SWAYAM platform through the National
Knowledge Network. The company plans to create hotspots for this,” a
source said.
This is the first time the ministry has received a proposal
of this kind from a telecom service provider. The government,
therefore, wants to ensure other providers have a ‘fair chance’.
“Though they (Reliance) are not charging us any money for
this project, we can’t approve it without giving a fair chance to
others. A tender will be floated so that it is a fair and transparent
process,” added the source.
Reliance Jio had last month made a presentation before the ministry regarding its plans.
When contacted by HT, Jio’s representatives refused to comment on the issue.
Significantly, even the HRD ministry’s proposal to provide free Wi-Fi to central universities, which has been in the pipeline for quite some time, is also likely to take off this year. HRD minister Prakash Javadekar had recently announced that 38 universities would be made Wi-Fi enabled by August 31 this year.
Significantly, even the HRD ministry’s proposal to provide free Wi-Fi to central universities, which has been in the pipeline for quite some time, is also likely to take off this year. HRD minister Prakash Javadekar had recently announced that 38 universities would be made Wi-Fi enabled by August 31 this year.