Students in colleges can soon access free WiFi across campus

Colleges and universities across the country will soon become WiFi enabled, allowing students to get free access to the internet anywhere on the campus.

Colleges and universities across the country will soon become WiFi enabled, allowing students to get free access to the internet anywhere on the campus.

While most universities abroad are WiFi enabled, most Indian institutions barring a few lag behind in terms of technology percolation to classrooms.

The human resources ministry will be rolling out this facility as an endeavour to help students access the best referential material online.

While the finer details of the plan are being worked out, it is expected to benefit 600 universities and 20,000 colleges.

Universities are likely to receive free WiFi with speeds up to 1 Gbps, while colleges will receive speeds of 10 Mbps, which could be increased depending on usage.

This provision will also help in the development of 'massive open online courses' (MOOCS). The BJP had put emphasis on online education and MOOCs in its manifesto.

Some institutions have already started providing free WiFi to its students.

The Delhi University, for instance, introduced the concept two years ago and in a phased manner has now introduced WiFi to all its colleges.

“For India to emerge as a global knowledge superpower, it is imperative for students to access WiFi across campus. It is a must for growth and progress,” said Ansh Goyal, a student of the Delhi University.

Panjab University vice chancellor, AK Grover told HT: “We started the WiFi facility on our old campus a year ago. It is a real boon for students and researchers. The WiFi facility on our campus is free and has been recently updated with improved technology.”