Bengaluru: Free wifi facilities will be made available at 110 places in the city. Tenders will be finalised within two weeks and the service will be activated by the end of February, said Minister for IT/BT and Science and Technology S.R. Patil.

Talking to reporters here on Thursday, he said the department has plans to restrict the usage of wify facility to three hours per person.

This facility was already available in 14 places in Bengaluru City. It was true that internet was very slow and steps will be taken to increase its speed. "Our endeavor is to extend the wifi facility across the city".

Mr Patil said in district headquarters, free wifi facility will be provided in 90 places including the offices of deputy commissioner, zilla panchayat chief executive and commercial places.

On protection to IT/BT companies in the city, the minister said that was being taken care of by the home department. The government was committed to create a fear-free atmosphere at all companies by working in coordination with the home department.

He said the government has plans to create 80 lakh jobs in IT sector in the next six years. At present, around 40 lakh people were directly or indirectly employed in this sector. The IT exports which is around Rs 1.80 lakh crore now is expected to touch Rs four lakh crore in the next six years.

The minister said the government was offering land on lease basis to set up IT/BT units in tier-II and tier-III cities, except in Bengaluru.