Question : PM WANI

(a) the salient features of Pradhan Mantri WiFi Access Network Interface (PM WANI);

(b) the district-wise number of Public WiFi network set up in Maharashtra and Jharkhand under this project as on date;

(c) whether the Public WiFi Networks would be set up in every part of the country, particularly in rural areas and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the State-wise number of Public WiFi network established as on date;

(e) whether the Government proposes to protect the data of consumers using Public WiFi network and if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the number of companies which have shown interest in the said project?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS
(SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

(a) The Pradhan Mantri WiFi Access Network Interface (PM WANI) framework enables provisioning of broadband services through a distributed architecture and unbundling of functions. App Providers, Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs) and Public Data Offices (PDOs) operating under the PM WANI framework are not required to pay any license fee to the Government.

(b) District-wise number of Public WiFi Access Points set up in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, under this framework, is available online on portal https://pmwani.gov.in/.

(c) Entities registered under the PM WANI framework set up Public WiFi Access Points purely on commercial considerations. As such, under this framework, Government has not mandated them to set up Public WiFi Access Points in any specific area of the country.

(d) State-wise number of Public WiFi Access Points set up under this framework is available online on portal https://pmwani.gov.in/.

(e) Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued instructions to Service Providers regarding secure use of public Wi-Fi networks. Further, detailed guidelines including security conditions have been issued by the Department for the entities operating under PM WANI framework.

(f) As on 31.03.2022, 244 Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs) and 111 App Providers have been registered under the PM WANI framework.