PM WANI (Prime Minister WiFi Access Network Interface) Scheme

In Context: The three MCDs will provide broadband services at 20 places in each ward under the PM WANI scheme to boost internet connectivity in the capital.

• This will help children from lower-income families to continue their education online and will also create digital channels to communicate government schemes to citizens.

About Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI)

• It was approved by the Union Cabinet in December 2020.
• 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)
  • This was first recommended by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in 2017.
• The objective is to provide public Wi-Fi service through Public Data Offices (PDOs) spread across the length and breadth of the country just like what PCOs (Public Call Offices) did for telephone spread in India.
• The Public Wi-Fi Networks will be set up by Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs).
• The Public Data Offices (PDOs) will be there with no requirement of the license, registration, or any other fees.
• Key Highlights: PM-WANI ecosystem will be operated by different players such as Public Data Office (PDO); Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA); App Provider; Central Registry.
  • The PDOs will either provide internet on their own or will lease from some other Internet Service Provider (ISP).
  •  A central registry will be set-up which will maintain details of all app providers, PDOAs and  PDOs.
    • It will be handled by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT).
  • It will also have an app developer who will build a platform to register users and discover Wani-compliant WI-Fi hotspots in an area and display them on the app.

Significance

• New Internet Users: PM WANI will be able to connect new users not just to commercial and entertainment options, but also to education, telehealth, and agriculture extension, and bring greater accountability to the government by boosting transparency and interactivity.

• Strengthen Digital India:  The scheme would enable small shopkeepers to provide Wi-Fi service and boost internet connectivity strengthening the Digital India mission.

• Reach to rural India: PM WANI can result in a rapid scale-up of the Internet in rural India.
• Low-Cost Alternative: Upcoming mobile technologies such as 5G may provide good quality data, but they involve high investment in the new spectrum, connectivity equipment, and regular subscriber fees.

Challenges in implementation of PM WANI

• Security Risks: Public Wi-Fi accessibility is prone to security attacks due to the non-encryption of such networks. In the past, there are cases where it was misused for unauthorized access.
• Lack of supporting infrastructure: Like getting the space (Access Point) for the tower etc.
• Low Speed:  As public WiFI networks are usually accessed by several people at the same time, it results in a considerable loss of bandwidth resulting in a slow network speed.
• Right of Way (RoW) issues: Complex procedures across states, non-uniformity in levies and obtaining approvals from various government agencies leads to delay in deployment of optical fibre cables (underground) and mobile towers (overground) infrastructure.

 Way Forward

• PM WANI should ensure the public data is protected and safe.
  • In this context, the enactment of the public data protection bill, 2019, is the need of the hour.

• The government must also ensure true unbundling of hardware, software, apps, and payment gateways in the WANI system, as advocated by TRAI, to prevent monopolies.

Source :IE