How it all began:
The internet was invented in the 1960s as ARPANET, a US government-funded organisation that constructed a packet switching network for military and academic purposes. Email was invented in the 1970s and quickly became one of the internet’s most popular applications. The ARPANET divided into two networks in the 1980s, which led to the invention of TCP/IP, the foundation for internet communication today.
Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web in 1989, and the first website went live in 1991. With the development of corporations such as AOL, Yahoo, and Amazon in the mid-1990s, the internet became commercialised. Social media platforms such as MySpace and Facebook gained prominence in the early 2000s. The internet is now ubiquitous.
What is The Internet?
The internet is a global network of interconnected computers and servers that use common communication protocols to communicate with one another. It is a large network of computers that allows users all over the world to share information and connect with one another.
Users can use the internet to access a variety of resources, including webpages, emails, chat apps, social networking platforms, online gaming, and streaming services. It has altered how people communicate, work, learn, and obtain information.
How does it work?
The internet is built on the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), a set of rules that allows computers to communicate with one another. It enables information to be exchanged between internet-connected devices regardless of their location.
The internet has become an indispensable element of daily life, linking people all over the world and providing access to a vast array of information and services. The internet is continually evolving and transforming the way people interact with each other and the world around them as new technologies and connectivity emerge.
What is Wi-fi and why Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi is a wireless networking technology that allows devices to connect to the internet without requiring a physical cable connection. It transmits data between devices equipped with Wi-Fi using radio waves.
Wi-Fi technology runs on certain frequencies and is commonly used to provide wireless internet access in homes, companies, and public areas such as cafés, airports, and hotels. Wi-Fi technology can connect a broad variety of devices, including smartphones, computers, tablets, and smart home devices to the internet and browse data. This is done by Wi-Fi as it creates a wireless network by utilising a wireless access point (WAP), which allows devices to connect to the internet. The wireless access point is typically linked to a modem, which is linked to an internet service provider and offers internet connectivity to the Wi-Fi network.
Wi-Fi networks can be password-protected to prevent unauthorised network access. Also, Wi-Fi technology has become an indispensable aspect of daily life, allowing individuals to connect to the internet while on the move, working remotely, or to stay in touch with friends and family.
Wi-Fi in India:
With millions of people accessing the internet on a daily basis, India’s internet and Wi-Fi market is fast expanding. The rate of internet penetration in India has continuously increased over the years, owing to the rising affordability and availability of smartphones and mobile data plans.
The majority of internet users in India access the internet via mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. According to a Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) study, there were over 776 million wireless internet subscribers in India as of March 2021, reflecting the country’s broad adoption of mobile internet services. Also, the number of public Wi-Fi hotspots in India increased from around 35,000 in 2018 to over 66,000 in 2020.
The use of Wi-Fi for internet access in India is increasing, with approximately 54% of all wireless data traffic in the country being transported over Wi-Fi networks by 2020. This trend is predicted to continue, with the adoption of 5G technology likely to increase demand for Wi-Fi access even more.
Coming to capital of this ever-expanding market for Wi-Fi Technology, Wi-Fi connection in Delhi is widely available, and you can find several hotspots across the city. Many cafes, restaurants, and shopping malls offer free Wi-Fi to customers, and several public places such as airports, railway stations, and bus terminals also have free Wi-Fi hotspots. The technology penetrated the Indian market through the following stages:
- In the early 2000s, Wi-Fi technology was launched in India.
- Wi-Fi connection in Delhi began to gain popularity in the mid-2000s.
- The Delhi government offered a free Wi-Fi service in public areas such as Connaught Place, Khan Market, and India Gate in 2013.
- The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) began offering Wi-Fi services at various metro stations in Delhi in 2014.
- The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) provided free Wi-Fi in select parts of Delhi in 2015, including Khan Market, Connaught Place, and India Gate.
- The Delhi government announced intentions in 2016 to provide free Wi-Fi to residents in public locations around the city, but the effort was delayed numerous times.
- The Delhi government established a free Wi-Fi service known as “Delhi Wi-Fi” in select places of the city in 2019, including public parks, bus stations, and markets.
- The Delhi government announced plans in 2021 to give free Wi-Fi in all municipal government schools to facilitate online learning during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Overall, Wi-Fi connection in Delhi has progressed throughout time, with the government and business organisations collaborating to give free Wi-Fi to the public. Availability of Wi-Fi in Delhi has improved, making it easier for residents and visitors to stay connected.
In conclusion, Wi-Fi is a wireless connection technology that allows devices to connect to the internet without using physical wires. Wi-Fi is extensively available in India, and the demand is growing by the day, notably in Delhi, where there are several Wi-Fi hotspots in cafés, restaurants, shopping malls, airports, railway stations, and bus terminals. Most Delhi hotels include Wi-Fi as part of their amenities.
You must have a Wi-Fi-enabled device and be within range of a Wi-Fi hotspot to connect to Wi-Fi in Delhi. While Wi-Fi connections are convenient, they may be less reliable than wired connections, so when connecting to public Wi-Fi hotspots, it is critical to take security precautions such as using a VPN.