TRAI Caps PM-WANI Tariffs to Boost Affordable Public Wi-Fi

17 Jun 2025 CW Team

Introduced under the Prime Minister’s “Broadband for All” initiative, the PM-WANI scheme continues to improve public internet access, foster digital inclusion, and generate economic prospects across both urban centres and underserved areas.

This revised tariff order follows a request from the DoT to TRAI, urging a review of backhaul tariffs under the PM-WANI scheme. The reference pointed out that high broadband costs and the requirement for costly leased line contracts were deterring local shopkeepers and small businesses from becoming PDOs, thus slowing the programme’s expansion.

Previously, on 16 September 2024, the DoT announced a range of reforms within the PM-WANI framework aimed at resolving existing barriers to public Wi-Fi growth. Notable measures included:

Backhaul Aggregation: Allowing multiple access points to share a single backhaul connection, enabling wider coverage without added cost.

Dual-SSID Home/Business Integration: Permitting private Wi-Fi access points to host public SSIDs, opening up new revenue streams using existing infrastructure.

Roaming Across PDOAs: Enabling seamless user movement across different PDO Aggregator networks, supported by a unified payment system.

Mobile Data Offload Tie-ups: Allowing PDOs to collaborate with telecom service providers to ease spectrum load and boost income.

Ad-Push Capabilities: With user consent, PDO Aggregators and App Providers can deliver tailored promotions and content, creating new monetisation options.

These combined efforts—TRAI’s pricing cap and DoT’s structural reforms—are set to enhance affordability for small PDO operators, encourage grassroots participation, and drive the expansion of public Wi-Fi access, narrowing the digital divide and supporting local enterprise.

The DoT reiterated its dedication to working closely with TRAI, telecom providers, PDOs, and stakeholders to ensure swift rollout, dependable service, and inclusive connectivity nationwide.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has welcomed the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) Telecommunication Tariff (71st Amendment) Order, 2025 (PR 46/2025), issued on 16 June 2025. This amendment mandates that all retail FTTH broadband plans up to 200 Mbps must be offered to Public Data Offices (PDOs) at prices not exceeding twice the consumer broadband rate. This ceiling is expected to significantly reduce the backhaul costs for public Wi-Fi hotspots—by as much as tenfold. Introduced under the Prime Minister’s “Broadband for All” initiative, the PM-WANI scheme continues to improve public internet access, foster digital inclusion, and generate economic prospects across both urban centres and underserved areas. This revised tariff order follows a request from the DoT to TRAI, urging a review of backhaul tariffs under the PM-WANI scheme. The reference pointed out that high broadband costs and the requirement for costly leased line contracts were deterring local shopkeepers and small businesses from becoming PDOs, thus slowing the programme’s expansion. Previously, on 16 September 2024, the DoT announced a range of reforms within the PM-WANI framework aimed at resolving existing barriers to public Wi-Fi growth. Notable measures included: Backhaul Aggregation: Allowing multiple access points to share a single backhaul connection, enabling wider coverage without added cost. Dual-SSID Home/Business Integration: Permitting private Wi-Fi access points to host public SSIDs, opening up new revenue streams using existing infrastructure. Roaming Across PDOAs: Enabling seamless user movement across different PDO Aggregator networks, supported by a unified payment system. Mobile Data Offload Tie-ups: Allowing PDOs to collaborate with telecom service providers to ease spectrum load and boost income. Ad-Push Capabilities: With user consent, PDO Aggregators and App Providers can deliver tailored promotions and content, creating new monetisation options. These combined efforts—TRAI’s pricing cap and DoT’s structural reforms—are set to enhance affordability for small PDO operators, encourage grassroots participation, and drive the expansion of public Wi-Fi access, narrowing the digital divide and supporting local enterprise. The DoT reiterated its dedication to working closely with TRAI, telecom providers, PDOs, and stakeholders to ensure swift rollout, dependable service, and inclusive connectivity nationwide.

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