Reliance Industries has offered to lay optic fibre network across Uttarakhand in the next six months. The company proposes to provide free WiFi connectivity in colleges and hospitals. This was decided at a meeting between Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and RIL chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani.

Ambani has requested the state to give necessary approvals so that RIL can lay optic fibre across Uttarakhand. “Ambani has also offered to provide free WiFi in colleges and hospitals,” said Rawat, who addressed investors at an event organised by the state and CII. According to the Uttarakhand government’s website, there are 36 state colleges and over 40 hospitals there.

RIL’s proposal comes two months after Uttarakhand launched a WiFi balloon to bring internet to remote villages. The aerostat technology is the work of IIT-Bombay, with hydrogen being used to lift it off the ground. It’s fitted with a base transceiver antenna to allow a calling network, and a WiFi modem to provide villagers in the coverage area with Internet, as well as surveillance cameras.

Rawat informed that RIL has also offered to participate in the makeover of Kedarnath and the upcoming dhams in addition to Char Dham (four abodes) in Uttarakhand. They are being developed as pilgrimage sites.