(a) whether the Government proposes to set up public Wi-Fi hotspot as pay-as-you-go Public Data Offices (PDOs) across the country on the lines of yesteryear’s PCOs and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and
(b) whether the Government proposes to establish open system based Wi-Fi access network interface and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS &
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)
(a) Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has received recommendations dated 9th March 2017 from Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on "Proliferation of Broadband through Public Wi-Fi Networks". In these recommendations, TRAI has, inter-alia, recommended for setting up of Public Data Offices (PDOs) for providing public Wi-Fi services on the model similar to the Public Calling Offices (PCOs). These recommendations are presently under examination in DoT.
(b) Based on the above said recommendations, TRAI has released a document on 7th July, 2017 inviting all interested parties to be a part of Pilot Wi-Fi project. The vision of this initiative is to establish an open architecture based Wi-Fi Access Network Interface. After submission of report / recommendation, if any, by TRAI in this regard, appropriate decision shall be taken by DoT.
************