Union Cabinet decides to launch PM-WANI for public WiFi service

The union cabinet on Wednesday approved the Prime Minister's Wi-Fi Access Network Initiative (PM-WANI), for free wireless internet in public spaces.

"The cabinet has taken this decision to unleash a massive Wi-Fi network in our country. Public data centres will be opened across the country. There will be no licence fee or registration (for providing internet access)," said Ravi Shankar Prasad, the Union IT Minister.

Public Wi-Fi networks will be set up by Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOA) through Public Data Offices (PDO) across the country. Third parties can develop an app that can be downloaded by users, who must register themselves and can then be connected to the nearest Wi-Fi network.

Although there will be no licence fees, PDOAs and app providers need to be registered with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). This will happen within seven days of application.