Lok Sabha Question No. 409 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-03
Subject: PM Wani Project
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Sukanta Majumdar, Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Nisith Pramanik, Jayanta Kumar Roy, Bhola Singh, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Raja Amareshwara Naik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 409 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  FEBRUARY, 2021

## PM WANI PROJECT

409. DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR: SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR: SHRI NISITH PRAMANIK: DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY: SHRI BHOLA SINGH: SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO: SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  proposed  to  launch  Prime  Minister  Wi-Fi  access  network interfaces (PM Wani) and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Department of Telecommunication (DoT)has constituted five working groups with  industry  representation  to  minimise  hiccups  in  rolling  out  PM  Wani  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is targeting a four-fold increase in public Wi-Fi access points to 2 million by the end of 2021 and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the other steps being taken by the Government in this regard so far?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, EDUCATION AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

- (a)  Yes, Sir. The proposal of the Department for Proliferation of Broadband through Public Wi-Fi Networks named as Prime Minister Wireless Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) framework has been approved by the Cabinet in its meeting held on 9/12/2020.

As per the  PM-WANI framework, it is envisaged that last mile broadband connectivity, will be through a network of public Wi-Fi access points. The backhaul requirement for these Wi-Fi access points  to  be  met  by  internet  bandwidth  from  the  telecom  service  providers/internet  service providers.  Under the distributed architecture and unbundling of functions, the WANI eco-system consists of following players:

-  Public Data Office (PDO): To establish, maintain, and operate WANI compliant WiFi Access Points and deliver broadband services to subscribers.

-  Public  Data  Office  Aggregator  (PDOA): An  aggregator  of  PDOs  and  perform  the functions relating to Authorization and Accounting.
-  App Provider :  To register users and discover WANI compliant Wi-Fi hotspots in the nearby area and display the same within the App for accessing the internet service.
-  Central  Registry :  To  maintain,  in  accordance  with  the  WANI  architecture  and specifications, the details of App Providers, PDOAs, and PDOs.

(b)    No, Sir. However, five industry led working groups are working on various aspects of the framework.

(c)    At present about 5 lakh Wi-Fi access points are working in the country. Setting up of public Wi-Fi access points by  entrepreneurs under the  PM-WANI framework will further enhance the deployment of Wi-Fi access points.

(d)        A  detailed  guidelines  have  been  issued  by  the  Department  for  operationalising  the  PM WANI framework. An online system for free registration of entities (PDOAs and App Providers) has been implemented by the Department. The registration of a PDOA will provide it permission for pan India operations.

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