Wi-Fi data vouchers to be available soon at local shops

Wi-Fi vouchers will offers access to Internet in public places. These vouchers will cost as low as Rs 10. 

You may soon be able to buy Wi-Fi vouchers as easily as you buy recharge packs from small street shops. The government is developing a new technology solution that will allow these shops, and even handcart operators to sell these vouchers that will bring instant data access to users. 

According to The Economic Times report, Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) has built a mass market 'public data office' (PDO) solution priced under Rs 50,000 to deliver low-cost Wi-Fi solutions. With a PDO device, a local shop can easily sell Wi-Fi data vouchers priced as low as Rs 10. Though there is no word on the upper limit of the price range.

C-Dot, which is research and development centre owned by the government, will provide the service over license-free ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical) band. It includes Wi-Fi access, e-KYC and OTP authentication along with a voucher management system and a billing system, covering both hardware and software aspects. 

The report further explains that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has demanded some tweaks that could help free up some new spectrum bands to make Wi-Fi access possible. This will pave way Wi-Fi access in public places at affordable prices. It may also allow involvement of small entrepreneurs and aggregators.