PM
WANI SCHEME : NATIONAL
NEWS
: TRAI releases
Telecommunication Tariff draft amendment order on regulatory framework for
PM-WANI scheme
WHAT’S
IN THE NEWS ?
PM-WANI
Scheme :
- Launch: Introduced by the
Department of Telecommunications in 2020.
- Objective: Enhance public Wi-Fi
hotspots to build robust digital communication infrastructure, especially
in rural areas.
- Employment and Access: Aims to increase employment
for small and micro-entrepreneurs and provide affordable internet to
underserved urban and rural households.
- Local Participation: Encourages local shops and
establishments to provide Wi-Fi for last-mile internet delivery without
needing a license or registration fee.
PM-WANI
Ecosystem:
- Public Data Office (PDO): Establishes Wi-Fi hotspots
and provides internet access to users.
- Public Data Office
Aggregator (PDOA): Offers authorization and accounting services
to PDOs.
- App Provider: Displays available hotspots
in proximity on users' devices.
- Central Registry: Managed by the Centre for
Development of Telematics; maintains details of App Providers, PDOs, and
PDOAs.
Concerns:
- The National Digital
Communications Policy (NDCP) 2018, under the 'Connect India' mission,
aimed to deploy 10 million public Wi-Fi hotspots by 2022.
- Bharat 6G Vision also set
the goal of 10 million public Wi-Fi hotspots by 2022 and 50 million by
2030 to meet Digital India 2030 objectives.
- Current PM-WANI hotspot
numbers are significantly below these targets.
Source :
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2048265