Kolkata to become fully Wi-Fi enabled in two month's time

Kolkata: In another two-month's time, the City of Joy would be the first metro city in India to have a 4G-enabled free Wi-Fi service, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the 39th International Kolkata Book Fair, Banerjee announced that a free 4G Wi-Fi service would be offered around Park Street in the next 15 days.

"From February 5 a free 4G Wi-Fi internet service will be offered at the Park Street and its surrounding areas. And within next two months the whole of Kolkata will enjoy the free service," Banerjee said.

"The work for the 4G is complete and I congratulate the Reliance Company for making Kolkata a Wi-Fi city. This will transform Kolkata into a networked society - smart, simple and secure," she added.

"I am delighted to announce this at this international book fair. No place is more suitable than this for such an announcement to make."

Stating that the service "will be a life changer for everybody", Reliance Jio business head and state mentor (East) Tarun Jhunjhunwala said, "This service will start from February 5 and Kolkata will be the first metro city with a 4G-enabled high-speed internet service."

"From February 5, this service will be offered at Park Street and its neighbouring places like Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road, Russell Street and Little Russell Street," he said.

"Within next two months, the services will be offered in entire Kolkata and that will be the best in the country," Jhunjhulwala said, adding that Reliance Jio would provide Wi-Fi services to all the 145 municipal wards of Kolkata.