Free Wi-Fi at Chennai Beaches from September: 107 New Smart Poles Planned

Visitors to Chennai’s popular beaches may soon have access to free public Wi-Fi, with the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) planning to install 107 new Wi-Fi smart poles at Marina Beach, Besant Nagar, Tiruvanmiyur and Tiruvottiyur.

The new service is expected to become operational in September, with users eligible for 45 minutes of free internet access per day.

107 Wi-Fi Smart Poles to Be Installed

Under the plan, 75 Wi-Fi poles will be installed at Marina Beach, 20 at Besant Nagar and 10 at Tiruvanmiyur through Airtel. Hathway will conduct a survey in Tiruvottiyur for the installation of seven additional poles.

The project will be supported through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives by telecom and internet service providers.

Existing Wi-Fi Service to Be Improved

The GCC had earlier introduced public Wi-Fi smart poles at several locations in Chennai. However, users have reported connectivity issues with some existing networks.

To improve public internet access, the Corporation also plans to upgrade around 2,600 existing smart poles across 900 locations, including parks, hospitals and government offices.

Service providers have been asked to repair damaged infrastructure and improve the reliability of the public Wi-Fi network.

Free Wi-Fi to Benefit Beach Visitors

The proposed free Wi-Fi at Chennai beaches is expected to help visitors access online services, make calls, use digital payments, book cabs and stay connected with family members.

The initiative is part of the GCC’s efforts to improve digital connectivity and public infrastructure across Chennai.