PM-WANI Scheme

Context:

The draft Telecommunication Tariff (Seventy First Amendment) Order, 2025 proposes that the “broadband tariff (fiber to the home [FTTH]) for Public Data Office (PDO) under the PM-WANI scheme shall not exceed twice the tariff applicable for retail broadband FTTH services for the corresponding capacity offered by the respective service provider.”

PM-WANI Scheme

The Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) was launched in December 2020 by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT)

• About
  • A prominent scheme to promote public WiFi hotspot penetration and achieve the robust development of a digital communication infrastructure for the nation is PM-WANI.
  • This has been introduced by the DoT since December 2020.
• Framework
  • It is a framework that enables any entity, be it a shopkeeper, a tea stall owner, or a Kirana store owner, to set up a public Wi-Fi hotspot and provide internet service to customers.
  • This framework builds forward the objectives of the National Digital Communications Policy, 2018 (NDCP) by creating a strong digital communications infrastructure.

PM-WANI Ecosystem

• Public Data Office (PDO)
  • PDO is the entity that establishes, maintains, and operates the Wi-Fi hotspot and provides last-mile connectivity to the users by procuring internet bandwidth from telecom service providers or internet service providers.
• Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA)
  • PDOA is the entity that provides aggregation services, such as authorization and accounting, to PDOs, and facilitates them in providing services to the end users.
• App Provider
  • This is the party that creates an application to sign up users and find and display PM-WANI compliant Wi-Fi hotspots in proximity for accessing the internet service and also authenticate the potential users.
• Central Registry
  • This is the organization that keeps information about App Providers, PDOAs, and PDOs. Presently, this is maintained by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT).

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)

• About
  • DPI means digital platforms like digital identification, payment infrastructure, and data exchange solutions.
  • DPIs act as intermediaries for the flow of people, money, and information.
• India developed all three foundational DPIs through India Stack
  • Digital identity (Aadhar), Real-time fast payment (UPI), and Account Aggregator.
• DPI consists of three layers
  • Market, Governance, and Technology Standards.
• Advantage
  • The advantages of DPI are lower development costs, versatile application, and the democratic yet non-monopolistic nature.
• Programs of DPI
  • The successful DPI programs undertaken in India include Aadhaar, UPI, CoWin, among others like Unified Health Interface (UHI), Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), and Open Network for Digital Commerce.