Daily News Analysis

Reviving the PM-WANI Scheme

stylish_lining

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released the Telecommunication Tariff (70th Amendment) Order 2024 draft to revamp the PM-WANI (Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) scheme, which aims to boost the deployment of public Wi-Fi hotspots in India. Despite ambitious goals set under the National Digital Communications Policy 2018 and the Bharat 6G Vision, the number of public Wi-Fi hotspots in the country remains significantly lower than expected.

Status of Public Wi-Fi Hotspots

  • The National Digital Communications Policy 2018 aimed to establish 10 million public Wi-Fi hotspots by 2022 under the "Connect India" mission. Further, the Bharat 6G Vision sets the goal of 50 million hotspots by 2030 to support the Digital India 2030 objectives.
  • As of July 2024, the number of PM-WANI hotspots stands at 207,642, with only 199 Public Data Offices (PDOs) and 111 app providers operational. These figures fall well below the targets.
  • Daily data usage per Wi-Fi hotspot has also decreased significantly, from an average of 1 GB in previous years to just a few MBs today.

Reasons for Poor Penetration

  • High Backhaul Costs:
  • The primary reason for the limited adoption of public Wi-Fi hotspots is the high cost of backhaul internet connectivity. Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) charge excessively high rates for connecting Public Data Offices (PDOs) to the internet.
  • Insistence on Expensive Internet Leased Lines (ILL):
  • TSPs and ISPs often require PDOs to use Internet Leased Lines (ILL), which are significantly more expensive than regular Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) connections.
  • ILL costs are 40 to 80 times higher than FTTH broadband connections, making it unaffordable for small shop owners to participate in the PM-WANI scheme.

Key Changes Proposed in the Telecommunication Tariff (70th Amendment) Order 2024

  • Lower Cost Structure:
  • The TRAI has proposed a more affordable tariff structure for PDOs under the PM-WANI scheme.
  • Same Tariff as Retail Broadband:
  • PDO tariffs will now be aligned with the rates applicable to retail FTTH broadband connections, significantly reducing the cost of backhaul internet for public Wi-Fi access points.
  • Impact of the Changes:
  • The revised cost structure is expected to encourage more small businesses to set up public Wi-Fi hotspots, increasing the penetration of PM-WANI hotspots and boosting digital connectivity across India.

Conclusion

The TRAI’s proposed amendments aim to reduce costs for PDOs, making it easier to deploy public Wi-Fi hotspots. This is a crucial step toward achieving the Digital India goals and expanding access to affordable internet services across the country.

Maharashtra Scraps Hindi as Compulsory Third Language

The Maharashtra government recently scrapped its Government Resolutions (GRs) that mandated Hindi as a compulsory third language from Grades 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools. While the
Share It

River Pollution in India

The Delhi government's focus on cleaning up the Yamuna River is part of a larger national effort to rejuvenate the Ganga River and its tributaries, in alignment with the Namami Gange Programme
Share It

Infrastructure Failures

The recent collapse of the Mahisagar River Bridge in Vadodara, which tragically claimed the lives of 20 people, underscores the growing concern over India's infrastructure quality. Similar
Share It

Special Intensive Revision (SIR)

The Supreme Court (SC) is currently reviewing the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) process for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, suggesting that Aadhaar,
Share It

GM Crop

In ongoing trade talks, the United States is advocating for India to open its agriculture market to genetically modified (GM) crops. However, India has firmly rejected this proposal, citing concer
Share It

India-Brazil Relations

India and Brazil share a growing and dynamic bilateral relationship that has evolved across various sectors since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1948. Their Strategic Partnership, formali
Share It

Legislative Productivity

The Lok Sabha Speaker’s remarks about the need to enhance legislative productivity reflect growing concerns about the diminishing effectiveness of India’s legislative bodies. The chall
Share It

Economic Growth

India's rapid urbanization is set to dramatically shape its future. The transformation of its cities holds immense potential for economic growth, but it also brings significant challenges. As
Share It

Global South

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Brazil from July 2-9, 2025, for the BRICS summit, was not only his longest international visit in 11 years but also marked a significant diplomatic outr
Share It

Maharashtra’s Special Public Security Bill, 2024

The Maharashtra Assembly has recently passed the Special Public Security Bill, 2024, aimed at combating “urban Maoism” and left-wing extremism in the state. The Bill criminalizes activ
Share It

Newsletter Subscription


ACQ IAS
ACQ IAS