• Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a draft Telecommunication Tariff Order, 2024 on ‘Regulatory framework for PM-WANI scheme’.

• TRAI has proposed to bring down broadband connection charges for public data offices, which provide public wifi services, at par with retail users, as the number of public wifi spots in the country is far below the target number envisaged by the government.

• At present, the number of PM-WANI (Prime Minister’s WiFi Access Network Interface) hotspots presently are much below the targeted numbers, as envisaged in National Digital Communications Policy (2018) document and in Bharat 6G vision document.

• TRAI found that the annual tariff of a 100 mbps internet leased line tariff is  40-80 times more than 100 mbps of fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband connection for retail users. 

• TRAI is of the view that it is necessary to rationalise the cost of broadband connectivity to Public Data Offices (PDO) to pace up the proliferation of PM-WANI scheme.  

• Accordingly, TRAI proposes that the tariff for PDO under PM-WANI scheme shall be the same as is applicable for retail broadband (FTTH) connections. 

What is PM-WANI?

• Digital infrastructure and services are increasingly emerging as key enablers and critical determinants of a country’s growth and well-being.

• The country’s policy-makers need to particularly ensure that its communications infrastructure supports the entire population, whose demographic profiles vary widely across various indices such as literacy, economic conditions and urbanisation. 

• It is important for India to remain sensitive to these factors and promote policies that increase opportunities for their social and economic development.

• Proliferation of broadband services through public wifi networks is a step towards Digital India and consequential benefits thereon. 

• This will encourage technology entrepreneurs to develop and deploy wifi  technology solutions triggering ‘Make in India’.

• In November 2020, the Department of Telecom (DoT) shared with TRAI that the proliferation of public wifi hotspots is quite limited and much below the targets.

• The National Digital Communications Policy, 2018 under ‘Connect India’ mission had set the goal to enable deployment of 10 million by December 2025 for creating a robust digital communication infrastructure.

• In December 2020, the Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the proposal of DoT to proliferate broadband through public wifi networks under the framework of the Prime Minister’s WiFi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI).

• It enables provisioning of broadband services through a distributed architecture and unbundling of functions. 

• This framework takes forward the goal of NDCP of creating a robust digital communications infrastructure. 

• The PM-WANI framework envisages provision of broadband through public wifi hotspot providers. 

• Under the WANI framework, it is envisaged that last mile broadband connectivity, where the consumer accesses broadband services, will be through a network of public wifi access points. 

• The backhaul requirement for these wifi access points will be met by procuring internet bandwidth from the telecom service providers/internet service providers. 

Different players in the WANI ecosystem: 

i) Public Data Office (PDO): It establishes, maintains, and operates only WANI compliant wifi access points and delivers broadband services to subscribers. The local shops and small establishments as PDOs may earn extra income from selling internet without any requirement of license, registration and/or any fees to DoT.

ii) Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA): It is an aggregator of PDOs and performs the functions relating to authorisation and accounting.

iii) App Provider: It provides an app to register users and discover WANI compliant wifi hotspots in the nearby area and display the same within the App for accessing the internet service.

iv) Central Registry: It will maintain, in accordance with the WANI architecture and specifications, the details of App Providers, PDOAs, and PDOs. To begin with, the Central Registry will be maintained by Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT).

• A user who wants to access broadband through public wifi will need to download the relevant app, get authenticated, and thereafter access broadband at any public wifi hotspot. When the user reaches a public wifi  hotspot, the app on the mobile phone will show various available networks. The user can then choose the wifi network of choice, pay an amount — either online or through voucher — and use the network till the balance is exhausted.

• As on August 1, 2024, the total number of PM-WANI hotspots installed in the country are 207,677.

• The quality and reliability of services provided under PM-WANI depend on the backhaul internet connectivity provided by telecom/internet service providers.

• The DoT had cited that one of the reasons for low proliferation of PM-WANI is the extremely high cost of backhaul internet connectivity charged by telecom operators and internet service providers from PDOs.

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