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TRAI releases draft order on rationalizing broadband tariffs for PDOs under PM-WANI
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed rationalizing broadband tariffs for Public Data Offices (PDOs) under the PM-WANI scheme to overcome barriers to public Wi-Fi hotspot growth and ensure affordable nationwide connectivity.
The regulator highlighted that the proliferation of the PM-WANI scheme was significantly below the envisaged targets. One reason for this low proliferation was the high cost of backhaul internet connectivity charged by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs). It was also stated that TSPs and ISPs often required Public Data Offices (PDOs) to connect public Wi-Fi access points using expensive internet leased lines under the guise of commercial agreements.
In its revised draft Telecommunication Tariff (71st Amendment) Order, 2025, TRAI prescribed that the broadband tariff (FTTH) for PDOs under the PM-WANI scheme should not exceed twice the tariff applicable for retail broadband (FTTH) services of corresponding capacity offered by service providers.
This proposal aims to support the effective proliferation of PM-WANI hotspots and foster a sustainable ecosystem that ensures a balanced relationship between PDOs and service providers. This initiative aims to contribute to the broader objectives of the National Digital Communications Policy, 2018, and Bharat 6G Vision, which targets the deployment of 50 million public Wi-Fi hotspots by 2030.
The draft amendment has been placed on TRAI’s website (www.trai.gov.in). Stakeholders are requested to provide their written comments by January 31, 2025, and counter-comments by February 7, 2025.
BCS Bureau