Department of Telecom (DoT) Ministry of Communications is the nodal agency to proliferate Broadband through Public Wi-Fi networks under the framework of Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) which was approved by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 9th December 2020. This framework takes forward the goal of National Digital Communications Policy, 2018 (NDCP) of creating a robust digital communications infrastructure. The PM-WANI framework envisages provision of Broadband through Public Wi-Fi Hotspot providers and will consist of the following elements:
• Public Data Office (PDO), which will establish, maintain, and operate PM-WANI compliant Wi-Fi Access Points and provide last-mile connectivity to deliver Broadband services to subscribers by procuring internet bandwidth from telecom service providers and/ or internet service providers;
• Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA), which will provide aggregation services such as authorization and accounting to PDOs, thereby facilitating PDOs in providing services to the end consumer;
• App Provider, who will develop an Application to register users and ‘discover’ and display PM-WANI compliant Wi-Fi hotspots in the proximity for accessing the internet service and also authenticate the potential Broadband users;
• A Central Registry, which will maintain the details of App Providers, PDOAs, and PDOs. To begin with, the Central Registry will be maintained by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT).
