Summary:
The Government is promoting the expansion of public Wi-Fi nationwide through the Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface initiative, as highlighted by Jyotiraditya M. Scindia in the Rajya Sabha. With over 4 lakh hotspots deployed and rising user adoption, the programme is driving broadband access across urban and rural areas. Its decentralised, market-driven model supports local entrepreneurs, while policy measures aim to improve affordability, expand rural connectivity, and enhance service quality. Additionally, steps taken by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India are expected to further strengthen the ecosystem.
The Government is actively encouraging the nationwide rollout of public Wi-Fi under the Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface initiative, as stated by Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, in a written response to the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The programme is intended to accelerate broadband penetration by enabling large-scale deployment of public Wi-Fi networks.
Over 4 Lakh Public Wi-Fi Hotspots Across the Country
The Minister reported that as of February 28, 2026, a total of 4,09,403 Public Data Offices (PDOs), representing public Wi-Fi hotspots, were operational across various States and Union Territories under the PM-WANI framework. Additionally, 207 Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs) and 113 App Providers have been registered under the scheme. States including Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh have played a leading role in expanding Wi-Fi infrastructure.
User Adoption Continues to Rise
User engagement has grown steadily, with 2,44,67,896 individuals accessing PM-WANI hotspots as of February 28, 2026. Since its launch, total data usage under the initiative has reached nearly 58.64 petabytes, indicating a growing dependence on public Wi-Fi services across the country.
Decentralised Approach Supporting Local Businesses
Emphasising the structure of the initiative, Scindia explained that the PM-WANI model operates on a decentralised, market-oriented framework. He noted that it encourages small and local entrepreneurs to establish and manage Wi-Fi hotspots based on commercial and technical feasibility, while the Government primarily acts as a policy facilitator.
Policy Measures to Expand Rural Access and Improve Affordability
To further drive the expansion of PM-WANI, particularly in rural and remote regions, the Government has introduced several policy measures. These include steps to lower operational costs by allowing PDOs to use Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) connections and support multiple access points through a single backhaul. Revenue opportunities have also been enhanced, enabling PDOs to provide mobile data offloading services to telecom operators, while PDOAs and App Providers can offer user-consented promotional and branded content.
Efforts to enhance service quality include integrating existing home and enterprise Wi-Fi networks into the PM-WANI ecosystem and enabling seamless roaming across PDOA networks, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity for users.
TRAI Tariff Order Supports Ecosystem Growth
The Minister also pointed out that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, through a tariff order issued on June 16, 2025, has directed Internet Service Providers to offer retail FTTH broadband plans of up to 200 Mbps to PDOs at prices capped at no more than twice the standard consumer rates. This measure is expected to improve affordability and strengthen the overall sustainability of the PM-WANI ecosystem.
