AAP considering data vouchers instead of free Wi-Fi in Delhi
Delhi's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has tweaked their initial poll promise of providing free Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the city, and is now considering handing out mobile data vouchers instead of setting up hotspots. The tweak comes ahead of next year's Lok Sabha elections, and AAP wants to leave no room for Opposition parties to criticize it on the grounds of 'unfulfilled promises'. Here's more.
The AAP government had promised free Wi-Fi hotspots in 2016
In June 2016, the Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi (DDC), constituted by the AAP government, announced that 1,000 free Wi-Fi hotspots would come up across east Delhi. It was a key poll promise, but the project never took off, with the DDC becoming dormant.
The AAP government hasn't been able to reach consensus
Earlier, AAP had announced that tenders for the much-delayed Rs. 100cr free Wi-Fi project would be floated by September 30, and that pilot hotspots would be commissioned by March 31, 2019. However, with 10 days left to float tenders, the AAP government has been unable to reach a consensus about the model to be followed - Wi-Fi or vouchers - in providing free internet.
The vouchers vs Wi-Fi debate within the AAP government
While some within the government support the free Wi-Fi idea, there are others who think that Wi-Fi hotspots will require high maintenance and are susceptible to breakdowns and theft. 4G mobile connectivity, however, doesn't have these vulnerabilities, and thus it's being considered as an option. However, opponents of the internet voucher model say that it will be more expensive for the government.
PWD has fixed a meeting with telecom companies
Interestingly, PWD Minister Satyendar Jain had earlier rejected the internet vouchers, citing high costs. Regardless, it seems that the government, keen to execute the project before the Lok Sabha polls of 2019, is going with the internet vouchers idea. The Delhi PWD has fixed a meeting with telecom companies on Saturday to build consensus on how to go about it as soon as possible.
How the envisioned scheme is designed to work
Under the envisioned internet vouchers scheme, people would have to register their mobile numbers on a website, following which they would be sent a code. The code would enable registered customers to get reimbursements on data purchases directly to their bank accounts. However, in the system, only data purchases from service providers roped in by the government would be eligible for reimbursements.
