Date:10/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/10/stories/2007021004300300.htm

New Delhi

MTNL offers new value-added service

Staff Reporter

Uninterrupted broadband facility for the Capital now

NEW DELHI: Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) has introduced yet another value-added service -- Broadband with Wi-Fi -- where subscribers will be able to create their own "private hot spots" and get uninterrupted broadband and Internet services with a speed of up to 2 Mbps covering a range of 40 metres in their homes or offices.

Starting Thursday, MTNL's Wi-Fi services are enabled with "customer premises, equipment" (CPEs) allowing subscribers to create their "private hot spots". Interestingly, users can also create "private-public hot spots" through MTNL's pre-paid broadband service enabling a person to use the connection availed of by either an individual or an institution by paying some fee.

Launching the service, MTNL (Delhi) Executive Director A. K. Arora said broadband with Wi-Fi would bring convenience to subscribers to the level that multiple computers, laptops and PDAs could operate simultaneously. This would particularly help household subscribers who have more than one device at their residence and also institutions and companies, he added.

"With broadband Wi-Fi one can access the Internet in a wireless environment and so places like café, restaurants and shopping malls will become more fun to be, as they will become just not entertainment but infotainment zones," Mr. Arora said.

The tariff plan for broadband with Wi-Fi for new users is Rs.500 as registration fee, Rs.800 as security charges for modem and Rs.300 for installation and testing.

The monthly rental for the modem is Rs.150. Subscribers then could choose any existing broadband tariff plan for usage.

Existing broadband subscribers availing themselves of the new service will also have to pay security for modem of Rs.300 and monthly rental for modem Rs.100. People can get the new service by dialling 1500 or 22221500.