Prime Minister Modi calls PM-WANI Scheme ‘historic’, says it will Strengthen Digital India Mission

The Union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday approved the “historic PM-WANI (Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) scheme” adding that it will revolutionise the tech world and significantly improve the Wi-Fi availability across India.

The proposal of Department of Telecom for setting up of Public Wi-Fi Networks by Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs) to provide public Wi-Fi service through Public Data Offices (PDOs) spread across the length and breadth of the country to accelerate proliferation of Broadband Internet services through Public Wi-Fi network in the country.

“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’,” PM Modi tweeted.

He further added” The scheme would enable our small shopkeepers to provide Wi-Fi service. This will boost incomes as well as ensure our youth gets seamless internet connectivity. It will also strengthen our Digital India mission”.

This Public Wi-Fi Access Network Interface eco-system will be operated by different players:

• Public Data Office (PDO): It will establish, maintain, and operate only WANI compliant Wi-Fi Access Points and deliver broadband services to subscribers.
• Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA): It will be an aggregator of PDOs and perform the functions relating to Authorisation and Accounting.
• App Provider: It will develop an App to register users and discover WANI compliant Wi-Fi hotspots in the nearby area and display the same within the App for accessing the internet service.
• Central Registry: It will maintain the details of App Providers, PDOAs, and PDOs. To begin with, the Central Registry will be maintained by C-DoT.

Information Technology and Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said this will promote the growth of public WiFi networks in the country and would unleash a massive Wi-Fi revolution.

“No license, no registration, and no fee would be applicable for the PDOs, which could be small shops or even Common Service Centres,” he added.