Union Cabinet approves setting up of Public Wi-Fi Networks by Public Data Offices
NEW DELHI, Dec 9: The union cabinet at its meeting held under the chairmanship of the prime minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved a proposal for setting up of public Wi-Fi networks across the country to accelerate proliferation of broadband internet services.
The proposal mooted by the Department of Telecommunication (DoT), was expected to be more business-friendly and in line with efforts for ease of doing business, the government said, adding that COVID-19 pandemic had necessitated delivery of stable and high speed broadband internet services to a large number of subscribers, particularly which do not have 4G mobile coverage.
Under the Wi-Fi Public Network to be known as PM-WANI (Public Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) eco-system will be operated by different players. Public Data Offices (PDO) will establish, maintain, and operate only WANI compliant Wi-Fi Access Points and deliver broadband services to subscribers while the Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA) will be an aggregator of PDOs and perform the functions relating to Authorization and Accounting.
Briefing media persons after the cabinet meeting, Communications and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said these PDOs could be opened up by anyone, including tea shops or a public office and there would be no license fee for providing broadband internet through these public Wi-Fi networks.
“Providers will get themselves registered with DoT through an online registration portal without paying any fee. This will be granted within seven days of the application,” an official release said.
Each network provider will develop an App for the registered users and discover WANI compliant Wi-Fi hotspots in the nearby area and display the same within the App for accessing the internet service. A central registry will be formed to maintain the details of App Providers, PDOAs, and PDOs. To begin with, the Central Registry will be maintained by C-DoT. “There shall be no license fee for providing Broadband Internet through these public Wi-Fi networks,” the official release said.
“The proliferation of public Wi-Fi will not only create employment but also enhance disposable incomes in the hands of small and medium entrepreneurs and boost the GDP of the country,” an official spokesman of the department said.
Proliferation of Broadband Services through public Wi-Fi is a step towards digital India and consequential benefit thereon.
The government’s decision not to charge any license fee for providing broadband internet services using public Wi-Fi Hotspots, will massively encourage its proliferation and penetration across the length and breadth of the country. Availability and use of Broadband will enhance incomes, employment, quality of life, ease of doing business, the government claimed.
(Manas Dasgupta)
