JioPhone isn’t the only big project for Reliance Jio right now. In addition to the ‘effectively free’ device, the telecom operator is keen on offering free-of-cost Wi-Fi to colleges in India.
According to government sources in this Hindustan Times report, Jio wants to connect over 38,000 colleges in the country with its Wi-Fi services. For this, the telco has submitted a proposal, which is being considered by the Human Resource and Development (HRD) ministry.
But Jio is unlikely to get a free pass to get its service up and running. The ministry will undertake a fair and transparent tender process, in order to give everyone the chance to show their proposals, the report adds.
Jio has highlighted that the Wi-Fi will be provided via hotspot devices, which helps multiple devices to be connected at the same time.
Colleges listed as part of the proposal include Delhi University, Aligarh Muslim University and Banaras Hindu University among others.
Unlike most of Reliance Jio’s ‘free’ initiatives, this project could be their most ambitious, and relevant for the country’s government.
It remains to be seen if Jio gets the necessary approvals, or if some other contender plays spoilsport on its plans. Mind you, not many could propose to provide internet for free at such a scale.
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