Question : Last Mile Connectivity Under PM-WANI

(a) whether the Government proposes to provide last mile broadband connectivity through public wi-fi access points under Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network (PM-WANI) project and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the progress made by the Government under the scheme in Jharkhand, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh;

(c) whether the Government proposes to issue guidelines regarding the role of Honourable Members of Parliament in the functioning, monitoring and vigilance of the said scheme; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

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) farme work has been approved by the Cabinet in its meeting held on 9/12/2020.As per the 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 who will neither be required to take any license nor pay any license fee:

• Public Data Office (PDO): To establish, maintain, and operate WANI compliant Wi-Fi 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) As on 04/03/2021, 33845 Wi-Fi Access Points have been installed throughout the country. Number of Access Points installed in the states of Jharkhand, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh are 276, 781 and 1375 respectively.

(c) & (d) No Sir. Department has Telecom Enforcement, Resource and Monitoring (TERM) Cell at each Licensed Service Area for this purpose.


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