CHENNAI: Fulfilling yet another electoral promise made by late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa during the 2016 Assembly elections, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has launched yet another Amma brand scheme —Amma wi-fi zones — at five cities across the State. In all, wi-fi zones will be created at 50 places such as major bus terminuses, commercial complexes and parks, where people gather in large numbers.
In the first phase, the Chief Minister on Wednesday inaugurated these zones at the Labour Statue on the Marina, Gandhipuram bus terminus in Coimbatore, central bus terminus in Salem and Tiruchy and Mattuthavani MGR bus terminus in Madurai. Though Jayalalithaa had announced that the facility would be given free of cost, it has been announced that the users can avail of wi-fi connection free of cost only for 20 minutes. However, official sources said any individual can avail of the service free of cost for 20 minutes every day and individuals have to pay only for additional use.
Jayalalithaa made the announcement about free wi-fi on September 23, 2016, and orders were issued on August 16 last year that 50 wi-fi zones would be created at a cost of `8.50 crore. The zones are maintained by Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV. Each person can avail of internet connection for 20 minutes free of cost per day at Amma wi-fi zones. After that, `10 per hour will be charged. “The information about the user experience at these five wi-fi zones would be gathered and the services updated in the zones to be created in future,” official sources said. Information Technology Minister M Manikandan, Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan, IT Secretary B Chandramohan, TACTV Managing Director J Kumaragurubaran and senior officials were present.
How to connect with the zone
● Turn on wi-fi connection and you will find several networks available in the area. Connect to Amma wi-fi
● A login page will appear and then click to open registration page
● You have to provide your mobile number and e-mail ID. An OTP will be sent to you
● Once you enter OTP, you will be connected to the zone
● Service is free of cost for first 20 minutes per day
● You can split 20 minutes in two or more Amma wi-fi zones
● After 20 minutes, internet connection will be cut
● A payment page will open
● You can choose one hour or two hour package (`10 or `20)
● You can pay using net banking/debit card/credit card
● You need not pay more than `10 and `20 since there are no additional charges