Overview
PM-WANI or Prime Minister's Wifi Access Network Interface is a scheme introduced by the central government with the aim to create a large-scale network of hotspots throughout the country. The PM-WANI registration permits small and medium-scale businesses to start wifi services. This registration will enable businesses to generate employment and boost their disposable income in turn enabling people to have access to good quality internet at affordable rates. PM-WANI registration will address the issue of connectivity in remote areas and develop the growth of the Internet organically. As of now, there are a total of 136 PDO aggregators, 83 app providers and a total of 132,529 public hotspots registered under the PM-WANI scheme.
Components of the PM-WANI Framework
There are 4 components of the PM-WANI framework these are:
Public Data Office (PDO): Public data offices are those establishments that will provide Wifi to the people. These establishments are not required to pay any fee for registration to the department of telecommunication. The public data office will allow licensed internet service providers to connect to its Wifi Access Points (WAP). This shall enable the user to access WANI complaint wifi on the payment of a subscription fee.
Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA): The PDOA can be any company that is registered as per the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013. PDOA is an aggregator and will assist the PDO with functions of accounting and authorization. The PDOA must also work for the integration of digital payment portals. They will also keep track of tariffs, and subscriptions of users along with this, they are also required to make detailed records of each subscriber. Public Data Office Aggregator shall deal with the complaints of the users as per the directions issued by the Department of telecommunication.
App Provider: Similarly, like a PDOA, an app provider must be registered under the Companies Act, 2013. The app provider has to design and maintain the software application. It is the app provider's responsibility to develop infrastructure which enables the user to signup and finds PM-WANI-compliant hotspots and make these connections easily connect through the app. The app provider can also register with the department of telecom for free. In short, it will act as the medium to connect a user with a PM-WANI network.
Central Registry: The central registry is will create a detailed list of PDOs, PDOAs and App providers. The central registry shall be maintained by the Department of telecommunications. The central registry provides certification to the software applications and PDOA's infrastructure for PM-WANI within a span of 10 days. The central registry has to delete the details of all the stakeholders if and when prompted by the department of telecommunication.
Regulatory Bodies Involved in PM-WANI Registration
Documents Required for PM-WANI Registration
Important Terms and Conditions for PM-WANI Registration
Security Conditions for PM-WANI Registration
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Frequently Asked Questions
With the introduction of the PM-WANI registration scheme, the government aims to provide easy access of the internet to the common people of India. It also aims to boost the usage of internet services through public wifi and promote the idea of a digital India.
The PDOA and App Providers have to get registered with the central registry after signing up with the Department of Telecommunication. Once registered with the central registry the business entity will be certified to exchange pieces of information with all the PDOAs or App providers in the PM-WANI Ecosystem
As of now the PODs, PDOAs and app providers need not pay any amount for getting themselves registered with the Department of Telecommunication. Unlike the PDOAs and App providers PODs don't even require to obtain a license.
The Department of telecommunication will grant the certificate of registration to the PDOAs and App providers within seven working days. The certificate shall be automatically updated in the portal within that period.
An entity can establish all types of broadband services that are compliant with PM-WANI wifi hotspots. However, the company is prohibited from entering into telephony services.
Yes, an entity can become both the PDOA as well as the App provider the government has not introduced any restriction for the same.
No, PM-WANI registration does not have any region-based restrictions. Once a company obtains a certification it shall permit the entity to operate on a PAN India level.