Policy think-tank Broadband India Forum (BIF) expressed appreciation for the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s acknowledgment of Public Wi‑Fi as a crucial part of affordable and widespread broadband access. BIF highlighted that relying solely on mobile networks might not be sufficient for India’s digital future. Public Wi‑Fi can enhance affordability, indoor connectivity, spectrum efficiency, and reduce congestion on mobile networks.
BIF recommended a national strategy that integrates PM‑WANI with BharatNet, state fiber networks, smart cities, and public digital assets to expedite hotspot deployment. They also proposed a nationwide awareness campaign to educate users about the benefits of Public Wi-Fi. Strengthening PM-WANI through Super PDOAs and scalable PDOA ecosystems was advised to create trusted digital platforms.
Broadband India Forum emphasized the importance of Public Wi-Fi in bridging the digital gap and urged for a supportive ecosystem where Telecommunication Service Providers (TSPs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) see Public Wi-Fi as a growth opportunity. They suggested developing open standards for seamless Wi‑Fi roaming and authentication, along with a national roadmap for future Wi-Fi technologies like Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7.
BIF also called for targeted public funding in areas facing market failures and ecosystem development needs. They encouraged greater involvement from municipalities and local bodies to facilitate digital infrastructure development. TV Ramachandran, President of Broadband India Forum, stressed the significance of providing PM-WANI a fair chance to expand India’s Public Wi-Fi ecosystem.
