(a) whether it is true that Indian telecom industry will rollout one million Wi-fi hotspots in the country by December, 2019;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is also true that Bharat Wi-fi would be a country wide common inter operable platform for these million hotspots which would be owned and operated by telecom service providers, internet service providers and virtual network operators; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS &
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)
(a) to (d) Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), Internet Service Providers Association of India (ISPAI) and Virtual Network Operators Association of India (VNOAI) have submitted a joint proposal to Department of Telecommunications for providing seamless and interoperable Internet and Broadband Services through Public Wi-Fi Hotspots. These services are proposed to be provided through a common platform to be owned and operated by them. They have envisaged roll out of one million Wi-Fi Hotspots by September 2019 under this platform.