Wireless Internet reigns Goan beaches

Cavellosim based Taj Exotica of Taj Group of Hotels,

earned the distinction of bringing the latest craze of Wi Fi technology to Goa's

world famous beaches. Taj Exotica is one of the 15 properties of Taj Group of

Hotels nation-wide, to be introduced with Wi Fi Technology which provides

wireless Internet access to its guests within the hotel premises. Incidentally,

Taj Exotica was the first hotel in Goa to lay dedicated Optical Fiber Cable (OFC)

for better connectivity several years back.

So far, only 40 percent of the hotel premises has been

covered under this facility which was introduced in April 2002. The remaining

part, which basically comprises of some 80 villas, 40 rooms out of the total of

140 rooms and the remaining strip of beach, will be completed before the start

of next tourist season in October.

In the first phase some rooms, restaurants, lobby and

300 mts. of beach stretch housing beach shacks have been provided with wireless

connectivity, which is branded as 'Taj Connect' by the hotel. One of the prime

properties of Taj group, Taj Exotica is a favored venue for the business

conferences of big corporate houses. "There is tremendous response for the

service. Wi Fi is also being used in the conferences", a source in the

hotel told CNS.

However, 70 percent of the visitors have their own dial

up Internet accounts. All the rooms are provided with two ports for accessing

Internet. All the Taj hotels charge Rs 600 for 24 hours while the one-hour

account is available for Rs 200. Users can, however, upgrade from the lower to

the higher account if they want.

Customers are given a wireless LAN card, through which

they can access the Internet, from wherever they are in the hotel. They will get

billed for the usage.

Niraj Naik


(CNS)