Google bags Rs 150 crore wi-fi project in Pune

Google will be collaborating with companies including IBM, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and RailTel to provide wi-fi services in Pune as part of the smart city project. For this project, Google will be working with the Pune Smart City Development Corporation Limited (PSCDCL).

“With the goal of creating a great Internet for the next billion users, we have found that making high-quality public wi-fi more easily accessible can play a critical role in bringing the benefits of internet to millions of Indians. We believe that Google Station, can help ISPs, venue operators, and city governments quickly and reliably deploy high speed internet, ” a statement from Google said.

Under the contract valued at Rs.150 crore, Google will deploy its Google Station platform, which has wi-fi network management capability. RailTel, on the other hand, will provide last-mile fiber connectivity to enable wi-fi hotspots at around 200 strategic locations across the city.

PSCDCL is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), which consists of seven stakeholders and 15 directors collaborating on the smart city mission.

Under the deal, IBM is providing its smart city solutions that will work as the backbone of the Pune smart city.

IBM is also helping L&T set up a Smart City Operation Centre (SCOC) to integrate all the services and applications on a single platform, which will be able to accommodate all future needs through integration of various citizen-centric applications. It will integrate 49 applications.