- According to official data, the PM-WANI plan has resulted in a rapid increase in public Wi-Fi hotspots across India, with roughly 1,99,896 hotspots nationwide.
What is the Prime Minister’s WANI Initiative?
- PM Modi unveiled the Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM WANI) in December 2020.
- It is an initiative of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
- It advances the purpose of the National Digital Communications Policy, 2018 (NDCP) of building a strong digital communications infrastructure.
- The goal is to make internet connection more widely available, especially in distant and neglected places.
- Implementation: Uses Public Data Offices (PDOs) located in public places such as train stations, banks, and post offices. Users can connect to the internet via Wi-Fi at these sites without using a SIM card.
PM-WANI ecosystem consists of four parts:
- Public Data Office (PDO): It builds Wi-Fi hotspots and gives internet access to consumers.
- The Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA) offers authorization and accounting services to PDOs.
- App Provider: It lists the accessible hotspots in the phone’s vicinity.
- The Centre for Development of Telematics oversees the Central Registry, which contains information on App Providers, PDOs, and PDOAs.
How to Use PM WANI?
- To use PM WANI services, customers must first install the Data PM WANI app on their cellphones.
- The programme allows users to connect to local public Wi-Fi PDOs.
- This application provides seamless connecting to PM-WANI-compliant Wi-Fi hotspots, allowing users to easily access internet services.
Offered Data Plans:
PM WANI provides a variety of data plans to meet different use needs:
- Rs 6 plan: 1GB data for 1 day
- Rs 9 plan: 2GB data for 2 days
- Rs 18 plan: 5GB data for 3 days
- Rs 25 plan: 20GB data for 7 days
- Rs 49 plan: 40GB data for 14 days
- Rs 99 plan: 100GB data for 30 days
Role of Public Data Offices (PDOs)
- The PM-WANI plan allows rural entrepreneurs to build Public Data Offices (PDOs) in remote areas.
- These PDOs purchase internet bandwidth from telecom service providers or ISPs in order to provide low-cost Wi-Fi services.
- This concept allows people to access the internet even in places with poor or no data connectivity.
Source: https://pmwani.gov.in/