PM-WANI
About
- Prime Minister’s WiFi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) is an initiative of the Department of Telecommunication, Ministry of Communications to enhance the proliferation of public WiFi hotspots to create robust digital communications infrastructure in the country, especially in rural areas.
- Launched in 2020, PM-WANI aims to build a decentralized network of public Wi-Fi hotspots, enabling local shops and establishments to provide last-mile internet delivery without requiring a licence or paying a registration fee.
Working of PM-WANI
- To access public hotspots under the PM-WANI scheme one needs to download a relevant App which shows the available networks.
- The user can then choose from a list of available connections and make a payment to use the network. The user can access the network till his/her balance is exhausted.
Components of PM-WANI
- The PM-WANI ecosystem consists of four parts: Public Data Office (PDO), Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA), App Provider, and Central Registry.
- PDO establishes the Wi-Fi Hotspots and provides internet access to users.
- PDOA provides authorisation and accounting services to PDOs.
- The app provider displays the available hotspots in the phone’s proximity.
- The central registry, which is overseen by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), maintains details of App Providers, PDOs, and PDOAs.
Centre for Development of Telematics:
- C-DOT is the Telecom Technology development centre of the Government of India.
- It was established in 1984 as an autonomous body.
- It was vested with full authority and total flexibility to develop state-of-the-art telecommunication technology to meet the needs of the Indian telecommunication network.