'PM-Wani', massive public Wi-Fi networks, to be launched by Govt

NEW DELHI: In order to provide Wi-Fi service, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday announced to launch a PM- Wi-Fi  Access Network Interface in India. The Information Technology & Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad informed that with the launch of PM-Wi-Fi or PM-WANI, public centres will be opened all across the country.

Talking to the media, Prasad said, “The Cabinet has taken a decision to launch PM Wi-Fi Access Network Interface to unleash a massive network in the country. Public data centres will be opened in the country. There will be no licence, fee or registration for it.”

Prasad also said that businesses can take services from Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio or any such internet service provider (ISP) and use their physical location to provide Wi-Fi to anyone who happens to be nearby.

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In an official statement it said, “ "The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval forthe proposal of DoT 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 length and breadth of the country to accelerate proliferation of Broadband Internet services through Public Wi-Fi network in the country."

It was further informed that there will be a central registry that will maintain details of app providers, PDOAs, and PDOs. The Central Registry will be maintained by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT).

R S Sharma, the former chairman of TRAI tweeted, “Cabinet today approved the WANI project recommended by TRAI. It will create millions of inter-operable Wi-Fi Hotspots in the country and democratize the content distribution and broadband access to millions at affordable rates. This will be the UPI of connectivity services.”

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