Summary:
India’s public Wi-Fi ecosystem is at the centre of a debate over its future role as TRAI reviews the expansion of public Wi-Fi networks. Telecom operators, including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, argue that widespread 4G and 5G coverage and affordable mobile data have reduced the need for large-scale public Wi-Fi, and believe public funds should instead support mobile broadband expansion. However, technology companies and industry groups such as the Broadband India Forum maintain that public Wi-Fi complements mobile networks by providing cost-effective connectivity in high-density, rural, educational, and healthcare settings. The discussion has gained importance as the PM-WANI programme has fallen short of its deployment targets, with stakeholders also debating the use of Digital Bharat Nidhi funds to support future connectivity initiatives.
India’s public Wi-Fi ecosystem is facing renewed scrutiny as stakeholders debate its relevance in an era of widespread and affordable mobile broadband. The discussion has emerged through responses to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) consultation paper on the expansion of public Wi-Fi networks. While telecom operators believe public resources should focus on extending mobile network coverage, Wi-Fi advocates argue that public Wi-Fi remains an important complement to cellular services and a valuable tool for digital inclusion.
Telecom operators, represented by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), contend that substantial investments in 4G and 5G infrastructure have significantly improved broadband accessibility across the country, reducing the need for large-scale public Wi-Fi deployments. Companies such as Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea have similarly argued that public funds should be directed toward strengthening mobile connectivity in underserved regions rather than supporting parallel Wi-Fi infrastructure. They have also highlighted security concerns associated with public Wi-Fi networks, particularly as digital transactions and online services become increasingly common.
The debate comes as India’s PM-WANI programme, launched in 2020 to establish millions of public Wi-Fi hotspots, has fallen short of its original targets. Despite the government’s ambitious vision, only about 4.09 lakh hotspots have been deployed so far. TRAI’s consultation is therefore examining ways to improve the viability of public Wi-Fi services and assessing whether further policy support is required. A key issue under discussion is the use of the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), formerly the Universal Service Obligation Fund, which is financed through telecom operator contributions and supports connectivity initiatives in underserved areas.
Technology companies and broadband industry groups strongly oppose the view that public Wi-Fi has become obsolete. The Broadband India Forum (BIF), whose members include major global technology firms, argues that Wi-Fi and mobile broadband should be treated as complementary technologies. According to BIF, public Wi-Fi can provide cost-effective broadband access in densely populated locations, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, transport hubs, and rural communities while helping reduce connectivity costs for users. The forum also believes that limited adoption is partly due to users not yet experiencing high-quality public Wi-Fi services.
Other industry participants have also backed a balanced approach. The Wireless Broadband Alliance has highlighted the role of Wi-Fi in offloading mobile traffic and improving connectivity in crowded environments, while Tata Communications has called for sustainable business models and better interoperability frameworks. Satellite broadband providers, including Amazon’s Project Kuiper, view public Wi-Fi as a practical means of extending internet access to remote areas, stressing that inadequate last-mile backhaul connectivity remains a key barrier to wider deployment.
