PM-WANI Scheme

• 18 Jun 2025

Source: BL

Why in News?  

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has prescribed a cap on tariffs charged to Public Data Offices (PDOs) under the PM-WANI scheme, in order to keep public Wi-Fi affordable, while also providing reasonable compensation for the broadband connection to service providers. 

• TRAI has mandated that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) cannot charge PDOs more than twice the retail broadband tariff for plans up to 200 Mbps.

What is the PM-WANI Scheme? 

• About: The Prime Minister's Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI), launched by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in 2020, aims to expand the availability of public Wi-Fi hotspots across India, with a focus on strengthening digital communication infrastructure in rural and underserved areas. 
  • The scheme is designed to provide affordable internet access to the urban poor and rural population while boosting employment for small and micro-entrepreneurs through the establishment of Wi-Fi service outlets, supporting the goals of the National Digital Communications Policy, 2018. 
• Access Mechanism: Users can access PM-WANI services by downloading the PM Wani application in the mobile phone, selecting a listed hotspot, and making a digital payment to use the internet. 
• PM-WANI Ecosystem: The scheme comprises 4 key stakeholders: 
  • Public Data Office (PDO): Sets up Wi-Fi hotspots and provides internet services to users. 
  • Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA): Facilitates authentication, accounting, and aggregation of multiple PDOs. 
  • App Provider: Develops and manages mobile applications that show accessible Wi-Fi hotspots. 
  • Central Registry: Maintained by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT), it holds records of all PDOs, PDOAs, and App Providers. 
    • Established in 1984, C-DoT is an autonomous telecom R&D centre under the DoT. It functions as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. 

 

• Key Features: 
  • No licence or registration fee required for Public Data Offices (PDOs), promoting participation by small vendors and entrepreneurs. 
  • Utilises local infrastructure (e.g., shops, kirana stores, tea stalls) to enable last-mile internet connectivity. 
• Key Benefits: 
  • Enhances digital inclusion and narrows the urban-rural digital divide. 
  • Facilitates affordable internet access and supports the Digital India mission. 
  • Stimulates employment generation in the informal sector through entrepreneurship. 
  • Improved internet access can contribute to GDP growth by enabling digital services in education, health, governance, and commerce. 

What are the Government Initiatives for Enhancing Broadband Connectivity? 

• National Broadband Mission (NBM): It is a flagship initiative to expand and strengthen digital infrastructure across India.  
  • National Broadband Mission (NBM 1.0) launched in 2019 focused on expanding broadband access to all villages by 2022 and fiberizing existing telecom towers to enhance connectivity. 
  • National Broadband Mission 2.0 (2025-30) builds on the achievements of NBM 1.0 and aims to accelerate India’s digital transformation, strengthen digital infrastructure, and enhance global competitiveness. 
• Gati Shakti Sanchar Portal: Gati Shakti Sanchar Portal was launched in 2022 to streamline the approval process for laying Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) and installing telecom infrastructure.  
• Telecommunications Act, 2023 & Right of Way Rules, 2024: Telecommunications Act, 2023 & Right of Way Rules, 2024 aims to simplify and expedite the deployment of broadband infrastructure across the country. 
• Amended BharatNet Program (2023): Amended BharatNet Program aims to provide optical fiber (OF) connectivity to 2.64 lakh GPs in ring topology (a network design where connected devices form a circular data channel) and OF connectivity to non-GP villages on demand.  
  • It focuses on remote and underserved areas, including the North-East, Islands, LWE-affected regions, Aspirational Districts, and border villages. 
• Submarine OFC Connectivity: High-speed connectivity has been extended to island territories through the laying of submarine optical fiber cables between Chennai–Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Kochi–Lakshadweep, enhancing digital access in coastal and remote regions. 
  • As of May 2025, the Submarine OFC project connecting Chennai to Port Blair and other islands of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is fully operational, with current bandwidth utilization at 243.31 Gbps.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) 

• About:  The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is an independent statutory body established in 1997 under Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997  to regulate the telecommunications sector in India 
• Composition: Comprises a Chairperson, not more than two whole-time Members, and not more than two part-time Members. 
• Key Functions: 
  • Regulate telecom services, including tariff fixation and revision. 
  • Ensure quality of service, fair competition, and consumer protection. 
  • Promote transparency and efficiency in telecom operations. 
  • Advise the Government on policy and licensing matters in telecom and broadcasting (recommendations are advisory, not binding). 
  • Foster a level playing field and issue regulations to ensure orderly sectoral growth and India's global digital competitiveness. 
• Appellate Authority: 
  • An amendment to the TRAI Act, effective from 24th January 2000, led to the establishment of the Telecommunications Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to handle adjudicatory and dispute resolution functions, which were earlier under the purview of TRAI, thereby separating regulatory and judicial roles. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)  

Prelims

Q. Consider the following: (2022)

1. Aarogya Setu  
2. CoWIN  
3. DigiLocker  
4. DIKSHA  

Which of the above are built on top of open-source digital platforms?  

(a) 1 and 2 only  
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only  
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only  
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4  

Ans: (d)