In a renewed push to strengthen nationwide connectivity, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has launched a consultation process aimed at accelerating the expansion of public Wi-Fi hotspots.
The regulator has released a consultation paper on the “Proliferation of Public Wi-Fi Networks in India,” seeking stakeholder feedback to improve deployment, viability, and adoption. The move reflects a continued focus on making internet access more affordable and accessible.
Public Wi-Fi is being positioned as a key complement to mobile broadband, especially as data consumption continues to rise. It offers a cost-effective and high-capacity solution, particularly in dense urban areas and high-footfall locations such as railway stations, airports, markets, and educational institutions.
The consultation paper evaluates the current ecosystem, highlights key challenges, and reviews global best practices to create a more scalable and sustainable framework. It also examines critical aspects such as authorisation, authentication, roaming, and billing systems within the public Wi-Fi network.
Despite earlier initiatives like PM-WANI, deployment has not reached expected levels. Key challenges include limited commercial viability, underutilised hotspots, security and privacy concerns, and low participation from state and local bodies.
The regulator emphasised that broadband infrastructure is now as essential as utilities like electricity and transport, supporting sectors such as education, healthcare, governance, and financial services. Expanding public Wi-Fi can also ease pressure on mobile networks while improving service quality.
With stakeholder inputs open until May 25, the initiative aims to create a stronger ecosystem for large-scale deployment and drive digital inclusion across both urban and rural India.
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