Chennai, August 9
Beachgoers in Chennai will soon have access to expanded free internet services, with the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) preparing to install 107 new Wi-Fi-enabled smart poles along major stretches of the city’s coastline.
The expanded facility is expected to become operational in September and will allow each user up to 45 minutes of free internet access every day.
Under the initiative, Marina Beach will get the largest share with 75 new Wi-Fi poles, while 20 will be installed at Besant Nagar and 10 at Tiruvanmiyur through Airtel. Hathway has also been asked to survey Tiruvottiyur for installing seven additional poles.
The infrastructure will be funded by internet service providers under their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, reducing the financial burden on the civic body.
The expansion follows complaints over unreliable connectivity from several existing public Wi-Fi facilities. Users have reported that phones often connect to the networks but fail to provide functional internet access.
Free and reliable connectivity is expected to help beach visitors make internet calls, send messages, book cabs and use digital payment services, particularly in crowded areas where mobile networks can become congested.
The GCC first introduced Wi-Fi smart poles at 49 locations in 2021, offering 30 minutes of free internet after OTP verification. However, connectivity reportedly deteriorated over time.
The Corporation is now planning to overhaul nearly 2,600 existing smart poles across about 900 locations, including parks, hospitals and government offices.
GCC Commissioner G.S. Sameeran said 38 Wi-Fi poles along Marina and Besant Nagar beaches are currently maintained by ACT Fibernet and Reliance Jio. Airtel and Hathway have also been asked to participate in expanding coverage.
The civic body has sought usage data to assess internet consumption patterns. With the network set to expand significantly, officials will also have to ensure adequate cybersecurity safeguards to protect users from hacking, data theft and other risks associated with public Wi-Fi networks.
