No free Wi-Fi for some phones in Hyderabad
Cyber security prohibits un-updated cellphones from accessing service
By : amrita didyala
Update: 2015-08-01 06:53 GMT
Hyderabad: The cyber security concern about making free Wi-Fi service available in the city is one reason for connectivity problems, as reported by some users. A mobile handset with virus, for an un-updated mobile will not be able to connect with the free Wi-Fi given the large number of firewalls created around the service. This also means that locally-made, cheap smartphones will not be able to connect as these might be using operating systems, which cannot be detected.
As per the cyber security rules there is a need to maintain logs of each and ever usage session and the Wi-Fi network being provided by BSNL has a 1.3 GBPS per second speed at each Wi-Fi hotspot (equivalent to around 1300 MBPS per second) which can support 400 simultaneous user sessions at each hotspot. It is the latest available 5th generation technology.
“Normally a user is able to get a speed of 2 MBPS at these hotspots and the speed during fewer simultaneous sessions can also go up to 15 MBPS. However, an old mobile, not updated one or one with a virus will not be able to connect with the hotspot automatically due to the security firewall rejecting such a device. The latest 802.11 AC technology that is being provided at these hotspots can cater to 200 square meter area of each hotspot,” said Mr A.S. Ramesh, director (communications) IT department, Telangana.
Service provider BSNL is giving the last mile connectivity, developing the fibre network and providing the bandwidth. While using the free Wi-Fi, users try to connect through multiple mobile handsets and each brand uses different kind of wireless adaptors. “Being able to connect or not connect would depend on the OS and the ‘diverts’ being used. If there is an old handset, the OS may have issues to connect,” said senior network engineer of Quadgen Wi-Fi Mr Vijay Kiran.
There are also reasons why one can get automatically disconnected. “What happens with WiFi is that it is available at a specific area and when a user is walking away from the limited area, it will get disconnected. Also if one has exhausted the 30 minutes free usage, it will automatically get disconnected,” said Mr P.V. Subbarao, GM Quadgen WiFi.