The development comes after the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), in its communication to TRAI, highlighted that the proliferation of the PM-WANI scheme was significantly below the envisaged targets.
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The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Monday has prescribed a cap on tariffs charged to Public Data Offices (PDOs) under the PM-WANI scheme, in order to keep public Wi-Fi affordable, while also providing reasonable compensation for the broadband connection to service providers.
Launched in December 2020, the Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) framework aims to accelerate proliferation of internet services by setting up public Wi-Fi hotspots in the country with the objective of building digital India and consequential benefits, thereon.
“Every service provider providing retail Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) broadband services shall offer all of its retail FTTH broadband plans up to 200 mbps to the PDOs under the PM-WANI scheme, at tariff not exceeding twice the tariff applicable to the retail subscribers for the corresponding FTTH broadband plan of the bandwidth (capacity) offered,” TRAI said in its order.
Broadband plans
In order to determine tariff framework for PM-WANI, TRAI analysed the tariffs offered to PDOs, capacities of these PM-WANI plans, and their comparison to retail broadband FTTH tariffs.
It noted that a service provider is already offering broadband plans specifically for PM-WANI, the comparison between their 50 mbps and 100 mbps retail FTTH plans and the corresponding PM-WANI plans revealed that the PM-WANI tariffs are around twice that of retail broadband FTTH tariffs.
For instance, PM-WANI tariff for 100-mbps plans was ₹1,532.82, while that of the retail broadband FTTH plan costs only ₹706.82. Similarly, for 50-mbps plans, PM-WANI plan costs ₹1,178.82, and the retail broadband plan is ₹588.82.
TRAI’s latest pricing framework has been designed to balance the interests of all stakeholders by ensuring affordability for small-scale PDOs, while also providing reasonable compensation for broadband connection to service providers, it said.
“The proposed tariff framework takes into account prevailing market scenario, current levels of adoption of PM-WANI services, as well as potential future growth. By aligning with these considerations, the framework aims to facilitate the orderly, sustainable, and inclusive growth of the public Wi-Fi ecosystem under the PM-WANI initiative,” the regulator noted.
High cost by telcos
The development comes after the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), in its communication to TRAI, highlighted that the proliferation of the PM-WANI scheme was significantly below the envisaged targets.
One of the reasons cited for this low proliferation of PM-WANI was the high cost of internet connectivity charged by telecom service providers (TSPs) and internet service providers (ISPs). It was also stated that TSPs and ISPs often required PDOs to connect public Wi-Fi access points using expensive internet leased lines (ILL) under the name of commercial agreements.
So, TRAI issued the Draft Telecommunication Tariff (70th Amendment) Order, 2024, on August 23, proposing that the tariff for broadband services provided to PDOs under the PM-WANI scheme aligned with retail broadband FTTH tariffs and asked for comments from stakeholders on the proposed framework.
After responses to the same from stakeholders, on September 16, 2024, DoT issued amendments to PM-WANI framework by removing the requirement for PDOs to enter commercial agreements with TSPs for Internet connectivity.
Published on June 16, 2025
