Brief

Wi-Fi technology for Digital India

According to the new Wi-Fi Alliance research conducted by Tonse telecom, by 2011-2012, the market for Wi-Fi networking gear and services in India will top $890 million, making a 36% compound annual growth rate from 2008.

As notebook consumption drives up to a phenomenal 21% of the total PCs consumed in the first half of 2008 against a fading desktop growth of 3%, the promise of wireless connectivity is becoming reality. With real estate development exceeding 30% annual growth, deployment of Wi-Fi networks in new residential, retail and corporate construction is stated as a key opportunity for Wi-Fi device manufacturers and service providers. The report cited growing laptop sale, rising broadband penetration and persistent use of mobile phones. This is a key indication of widespread Wi-Fi use among a growing segment of India’s more than 1.1 billion citizens.

However on the rural front, there is completely new twist to how Wi-Fi is being used. The Ashwini project of the Byrraju foundation, a leading non-profit organization, is transforming lives in rural India by using license-free Wi-Fi spectrum to provide employment, develop cottage industries and provide education.

In February 2008, the Indian railways announced that important rail-routes between metros would be made Wi-Fi-enabled together with 50 railway stations. Also profiled in the report, the startup venture O-Zone has set its sights on urban development, bringing Wi-Fi service to consumers and mobile workers at home, in public places and on the corporate campus. O-Zone aims to become the dominant player for IT and telecom within specific client verticals.

Wi-Fi hotspots are beginning to become a part of lead ISP marketing plans and some serious rollouts are being planned for this year. More second and third-tier hotels are expected to continue, installing of Wi-Fi facilities during this year. VSNL has announced that iPass customers traveling to or working in India would now benefit from the addition of more than 350 Tata Indicom Wi-Fi hotspots into the iPass Global Broadband Roaming Network. With the integration of these services, not only do iPass customers get added coverage, but the VSNL partner hotels, cafes, etc offering VSNL Wi-Fi services on their premises also benefit from increased roaming usage.