R S Sharma on PM-WANI’s potential to transform India’s digital public infrastructure

Source– The post is based on the article “R S Sharma on PM-WANI’s potential to transform India’s digital public infrastructure” published in “The Indian Express” on 19th September 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Infrastructure – Digital Infrastructure

News– The article explains the PM-WANI scheme of Indian government

How has the state of connectivity has undergone a significant transformation over the past seven years?

There is proliferation of mobile phones, extensive 4G network coverage, substantial reduction in pricing, and the widespread adoption of smartphones.

Supportive policies like Net Neutrality and the emphasis on developing Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) have also played a crucial role in advancing the Digital India initiative. It has led to a substantial rise in digital transactions.

What are the challenges for connectivity in India?

This expansion has also given rise to a substantial increase in data requirements. Presently, the average data consumption per person in India is 19.5 GB per month.

The total data traffic handled by mobile networks surpasses the combined data usage of the mobile networks in the United States and China.

Consequently, there exists a significant disparity between the demand for data and its affordability. It is particularly among low-income households and rural areas in India.

What are some facts about PM-WANI?

In a concept like the PCOs of the past. It establishes millions of interoperable Wi-Fi hotspots known as Public Data Offices (PDOs).

These PDOs would serve as shared infrastructure for delivering last-mile broadband connectivity in affordable packages costing between Rs 5 and Rs 10.

The idea was successfully tested and presented to the Department of Telecom (DOT) as Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (WANI) in March 2017.

In December 2020, PM-WANI was approved. It eliminated the need for licences or permits to commence operations. COVID-19 pandemic halted progress. Now, the operators, known as Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs), have resumed their work.

In the past year alone, more than 150,000 Wi-Fi hotspots have been installed by PDOAs.

There has been the introduction of various entities such as PDO, PDOA, app providers, and a central registry. Thus, an open and scalable framework has been established.

What is the potential of PM-WANI?

This framework creates business opportunities for aggregators. It allows for the unbundling of internet distribution at the last mile without the need for additional licensing fees.

It lays a strong foundation for delivering affordable internet access to a significant portion of society.

Currently, India has one of the lowest home broadband penetration rates globally. PM-WANI offers a golden opportunity to accelerate the penetration of high-speed unlimited internet and bridge the digital divide.

PM-WANI also fosters the growth of local micro-entrepreneurs. These local service providers, operating from small shops, neighbourhood businesses, and even households, can supplement their monthly incomes.

It benefits ISPs and telecommunications companies as they can sell more bandwidth by transforming their end customers into retailers.