By TV Ramachandran
BharatNet, the world’s largest rural optical fibre roll-out project, has quietly been laying the groundwork for India’s digital future. Covering about two lakh gram panchayats, with a target of connecting every village, BharatNet delivers high-speed, scalable broadband infrastructure deep into the hinterlands. On top of this backbone for last-mile connectivity, the Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-Wani) decentralises this broadband access. Powered by unlicensed spectrum and light-touch regulations, it is envisioned to offer affordable, open Wi-Fi services through millions of public data offices (PDOs) — local entrepreneurs, kirana shops, and small businesses.
A huge opportunity awaits us in public Wi-Fi. The ruling telecom policy, the National Digital Communications Policy 2018, targeted 10 million hotspots by 2022 and the National 6G Vision has asked for 50 million public Wi-Fi hotspots by 2030. France, a smaller nation, is reported to have 13 million public Wi-Fi hotspots, according to data from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. Against these benchmarks, India has barely 0.5 million — quite depressing. However, deploying the synergistic duo of BharatNet and PM-Wani, India can be quite optimistic because of the following advantages.
Last mile connectivity, at last within reach: In many rural areas, the economics of mobile towers or private broadband extensions simply don’t add up. Sparse populations and difficult terrains deter investments. Using BharatNet and PM-Wani, where once there were connectivity black holes, there can now be Wi-Fi beacons lighting up villages, bus stops, community halls, and marketplaces.
Empowering India’s digital citizens: Digital public infrastructure (DPI) initiatives like Unified Payments Interface (UPI), DigiLocker, e-Shram, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, and the upcoming Open Network for Digital Commerce are only as powerful as the connectivity that enables them. PM-Wani hotspots, mini Digital India centres in themselves, can act as the ramps to India’s DPI highways, enabling citizens to access banking and government services without travelling long distances, tap into telemedicine consultations, enrol in digital education and skilling programmes, sell products in national digital marketplaces, and more.
Boost to rural entrepreneurship: Through a decentralised army of PDOs, PM-Wani localises ownership of India’s digital infrastructure through micro-entrepreneurs, a critical factor for durability.
A Wi-Fi access point can cost as little as Rs 10,000-20,000. Even modest user fees or bundled service offerings (like selling phone top-ups, digital goods, and content access) can create viable rural businesses if backhaul cost is kept reasonable.
Leapfrogging the mobile-only model: India’s mobile data revolution has been remarkable but has led to a somewhat lopsided digital infrastructure. Mobile broadband alone cannot provide the desired level of quality consistency, sustainability, and resilience essential for the next level of digital evolution.
Fixed wireless access (via public Wi-Fi) can deliver higher bandwidth at lower cost; enable richer applications like video-based learning, telehealth diagnostics, and smart agriculture; and support larger, fixed devices like smart TVs, PCs, and Internet of Things hubs. One former communications minister appropriately termed every public Wi-Fi hotspot as a mini data centre by virtue of the amount of data that would be handled by them. The BharatNet-PM-Wani combo allows India to leapfrog beyond mobile-centric access, building a richer, multi-device digital ecosystem.
Resilient and widespread networks: Unlike centralised mobile networks vulnerable to congestion or disaster-related failures, distributed public Wi-Fi powered by BharatNet creates a resilient, multi-node network. Even if one node fails, others nearby can continue to serve users. In times of crisis — floods, pandemics, disruptions — this decentralised model can be a lifeline for information dissemination and emergency services.
Hurdles remain, such as improving BharatNet’s quality, strengthening PDO business models through bundled services and incentives, rationalising tariffs for PDO connections, and enhancing general awareness about public Wi-Fi among users. However, the good news is that none of these are technological dead ends. Solutions are readily available but unused, possibly due to blockages by some incumbents. However, mobile operators need to increasingly use public Wi-Fi to manage the exponentially growing data traffic, not as a fallback but as a strategic component of their networks. AT&T’s new partnership with Helium is a shining example. The public looks to the regulator and policymakers to lead the way to affordable, ubiquitous broadband in India. With policy action, public-private collaboration, and strong community engagement, the challenges can be overcome.
If leveraged correctly, the BharatNet-PM-Wani combo can bridge our digital divide, empower local economies, and secure India’s place as a leader in people-centric digital innovation. India has rightly earned global admiration for visionary initiatives like UPI and Aadhaar. Now, BharatNet and PM-Wani offer the next leap. A vision emerges of an India where every village has multiple Wi-Fi hotspots bustling with users accessing healthcare, education, entertainment, banking, and digital commerce; lakhs of rural entrepreneurs run small but profitable digital services businesses; and DPI reaches every Indian, not just the urban elite. The common man is waiting for this vision to be realised.
Research inputs by Shubhika Saluja, deputy director, communications & policy, Broadband India Foundation.
The writer is Hon. fellow, Institution of Engineering and Technology, and president, Broadband India Forum.
Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal and do not reflect the official position or policy of FinancialExpress.com. Reproducing this content without permission is prohibited.