Aamra to set up 1,500 Wi-Fi hotspots

Leading tech firm Aamra has taken an initiative to establish 1,500 new Wi-Fi hotspots across the country by 2016, where people will be provided with free internet.

At present, the company has more than 350 hotspots in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet, 200 of which are located in the capital.

A senior executive of the company said the free Wi-Fi service will boost the image of the brand. The move comes as it plans to provide paid internet services to home users and launch smartphones in the market. Most of the hotspots will be set up in Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna and Rajshahi, said Muntasir Ahmed, an assistant general manager of the company.

“Currently we are establishing our networks at all public and private universities, hospitals, restaurants, airports and railway stations, where people need to stay for a long time,” said Ahmed.

The company also plans to bring coffee shops, shopping malls and regular hangout places under their Wi-Fi networks with at least 10 Mbps speed.

Aamra will also take steps to create such hotspots in rural areas and all district headquarters, according to Ahmed.

As of January 2016, cafeterias of 10 public and private university campuses in Dhaka and Chittagong have been connected with Aamra's Wi-Fi service, and 25 more are in the pipeline, the company said in a statement.

“We understand the importance of ensuring continuous accessibility to the internet,” said Intekhab Mahmud, chief executive officer at Aamra Smart Solutions.

The company is working relentlessly towards achieving that goal, he said.