Major step for 'massive Wi-Fi revolution'! Cabinet Approves Public Wi-Fi Access Network Scheme PM-WANI
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New Delhi, December 10: In a bid to jumpstart a "massive Wi-Fi revolution" across the country, the Union cabinet ministers approved the setting up of public Wi-Fi networks to provide public Wi-Fi service through Public Data Offices without levy of any License Fee under Public Wi-Fi Access Network Interface or PM-WANI.
Under this scheme, the Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs) will provide public Wi-Fi service through Public Data Offices (PDOs) spread across the country to accelerate the proliferation of Broadband Internet services.
Talking about the bill Ravi Shankar Prasad, the Union Minister for Information Technology said, "The cabinet has taken a decision to launch PM Wi-Fi Access Network Interface to unleash a massive Wi-Fi network in our country. Public data centers will be opened across the country. There will be no license fee or registration (for providing internet access)."
PM-WANI seeks to bring public Wi-Fi hotspot revolution in India.
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) December 9, 2020
Users will be able to conveniently access WiFi at public places and make payments through mobile apps. pic.twitter.com/flJGAZpfS0
The PDO will establish, maintain, and operate only WANI compliant Wi-Fi Access Points and deliver broadband services to subscribers and the PDOA will be an aggregator of PDOs and perform the functions relating to Authorisation and Accounting.
An app developer will develop mobile applications to register users and help them discover WANI compliant hotspots near them.
While no registration would be required for PDOs, PDOAs and App Providers need to get themselves registered with DoT without paying any registration fee. Registration shall be granted within 7 days of the application.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the "historic scheme" would "revolutionise the tech world".
"Historic PM-WANI (Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) scheme that has been cleared by the Cabinet today will revolutionise the tech world and significantly improve Wi-Fi availability across the length and breadth of India. It will further 'Ease of Doing Business' and 'Ease of Living'," the Prime Minister tweeted.
The scheme would enable our small shopkeepers to provide WiFi service. This will boost incomes as well as ensure our youth gets seamless internet connectivity. It will also strengthen our Digital India mission. https://t.co/U2LlJdHmIt
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 9, 2020
PM also added that the scheme would "boost incomes" and strengthen the "Digital India mission".
The move is aimed at promoting the expansion of public Wi-Fi networks in the country. This will also significantly improve WiFi availability across the length and breadth of India.
The Cabinet also approved the Universal Service Obligation Fund Scheme for providing mobile coverage in Arunachal Pradesh and two districts of Assam under the Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for North Eastern Region. This project will provide mobile coverage to 2374 uncovered villages at an estimated cost of implementation of about two thousand 29 crore rupees including operational expenses for five years.
Cabinet has approved Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana at an expenditure of 1584 crore rupees for the current financial year. Twenty-two thousand eight hundred ten crore rupees have been approved for the entire Scheme period 2020-2023.
