The Way Forward is WireFree
India is on the verge of a sustained demand for wireless networking, says a recent Wi-Fi Alliance-Tonse Telecom report predicting that the Indian market will more than treble in size over the next 3-4 years - from around $263 million (Rs 1,050 crore) during 2008-09 to reach $891 million (Rs 3,560 crore) by 2011-12.
The report also estimates public access Wi-Fi hotspots - inclusive of locations in hotels, service apartments, shopping malls - to be in the range of about 1,500-1,600. Wi-Fi hotspots, with the number set to increase, with the initiatives being planned by various companies.
For instance, VSNL has already rolled out over 350 public hotspot locations, and is looking to increase the chain to about 1,000 in 2008.
The Indian Railways too recently announced that important rail-routes between metros would be made Wi-Fi-enabled together with 50 railway stations (20 of which to be completed by March 2008).
Real-estate developers such as DLF are looking at implementing Wi-Fi across DLF buildings all over India, and several Indian states and cities have announced city- and state-wide wireless projects with Wi-Fi local networks. We sure have come a long time since the time that the frequency was heavily controlled by the government. [Via]
Filed under: Emerging Tech, India