Briefs

Microsense to build Wi-Fi networks in Mumbai

Microsense has announced that it will build Wi-Fi networks in Mumbai for the hospitality sector, enterprises and service providers. The sites include over 20 Café Coffee Day outlets, hotels, restaurants and other locations throughout the city. The service will be provided through post-paid and pre-paid access accounts. There are three offers under the pre-paid category—Rs 35 for 15 minutes, Rs 55 for 30 minutes and Rs 105 for 60 minutes. Under the post-paid scheme, users can choose from ‘Pay as you browse’ and a monthly flat charge.

“Our objective is to blanket the city with hotspots, which will allow business users to move wirelessly in Mumbai,” states Kailasanathan, Managing Director, Microsense. He believes that Wi-Fi connectivity in the hospitality sector and at airports is a good opportunity for the company. Microsense is currently implementing several hundred public hotspots across the country, and expects its network to grow to 1,000 locations in the next six months. To consolidate its position further, the company has built networks in partnership with telecom providers such as Airtel and MTNL. These partnerships will provide access to the huge subscriber base of the service providers.

Said N V Krishna, Director, Microsense, “Though the penetration of notebooks in India is only 3 percent as compared to the 40 percent in western markets, the PC market is in the throes of transition from a desktop-centric mindset to a notebook one. Looking at this potential, we see an exponential growth of 100 percent in sales.”

Microsense will focus on three business models for larger market penetration: Build, Operate and Share for the hospitality sector and property owners; Build, Operate and Transfer for service providers; and Build, Operate and Own for its own flagship brand.