**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Starred Question No. 162 in Lok Sabha, to be answered on February 11th, 2026, regarding non-functional Wi-Fi hotspots in rural areas. The response addresses the implementation and challenges of the Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) initiative. It outlines the current operational status, corrective measures, and policy interventions.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **PM-WANI Initiative:**
* Government launched the Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) to proliferate Wi-Fi hotspots, including in rural areas.
* As of January 31, 2026, 52,733 Wi-Fi hotspots were installed in rural areas under this initiative, with 94 reported as non-active.
* Government's role is primarily policy enablement and providing a framework.
* **Promotion and Awareness:**
* As of December 31, 2025, 609 Workshops/Seminars, 318 Press Briefs, and 183 Advertisements were undertaken for the proliferation of the PM-WANI Scheme.
* **Policy Interventions (Issued 16.09.2024):**
* Allowing Public Data Offices (PDOs) to offer PM WANI through regular FTTH connections to reduce costs.
* Allowing PDOs to aggregate multiple Access Points to a single backhaul towards the ISP.
* Allowing existing home/business Wi-Fi Access Points to join PM-WANI, utilizing existing Access Points for revenue.
* Allowing roaming between Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs) for smooth switching between PM-WANI Wi-Fi hotspots.
* Allowing PDOs to offer mobile data offload by partnering with Telecom Service Providers.
* Allowing PDOAs and App providers to send content and promotions to potential PM-WANI users (with user consent).
* **Tariff Regulation:**
* Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a Telecommunication Tariff (71st Amendment) Order, 2025, on June 16, 2025.
* All retail FTTH broadband plans up to 200 Mbps must be offered to PDOs at tariffs no more than twice the corresponding consumer broadband price.
* **Financial Support:**
* There is no provision of financial support mechanism to any State or Union Territory under the PM-WANI scheme.
**Impact Analysis**
**Public Data Offices (PDOs)**
* **Impact:** PDOs can offer PM-WANI services using regular FTTH connections, aggregate access points, offer mobile data offload, and receive content/promotional opportunities. FTTH broadband plans up to 200 Mbps will be offered at reduced rates.
* **Action Required:** PDOs should implement the new guidelines and tariff regulations.
**Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs)**
* **Impact:** PDOAs can allow roaming between different PM-WANI Wi-Fi hotspots.
* **Action Required:** PDOAs should implement roaming capabilities for end users.
**Existing Home/Business Wi-Fi Access Point Owners**
* **Impact:** Can join the PM-WANI network and earn revenue.
* **Action Required:** Integrate existing access points into the PM-WANI framework.
**Telecom Service Providers**
* **Impact:** Can partner with PDOs for mobile data offload.
* **Action Required:** Establish partnerships and data offload agreements with PDOs.
**PM-WANI Wi-Fi Users (Consumers)**
* **Impact:** Access to more affordable Wi-Fi in rural areas, seamless switching between hotspots, and potential for targeted content/promotions.
* **Action Required:** Consent to receive promotions and content from PDOAs and App providers.
Key Entities Referenced
PM-WANI: Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface initiative to proliferate Wi-Fi hotspots, especially in rural areas.
Department of Telecommunications: The department that issued interventions in the existing PM-WANI Framework and Guidelines for Registrations.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): Released a Telecommunication Tariff (71st Amendment) Order, 2025 related to tariff for retail broadband connectivity for Public Data Offices (PDOs).
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 162
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11TH FEBRUARY, 2026
NON-FUNCTIONAL WI-FI HOTSPOTS IN RURAL AREAS
*162. SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has conducted any evaluation of the implementation of the rural
Wi-Fi hotspot initiative given that a large number of installed hotspots remain non-functional;
(b) if so, the details of the current operational status and the reasons identified for the low
activation rate of these hotspots;
(c) whether the Government has engaged with telecom service providers and local bodies to
assess the challenges related to maintenance, connectivity and adoption of these Wi-Fi services;
(d) if so, the details of the assessment and any corrective measures being planned; and
(e) the details of the policy interventions and financial support mechanisms being introduced to
ensure the success of the programme and improve digital connectivity in rural and underserved
regions?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN
REGION
(SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)
(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
1STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS
(a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.162 FOR 11TH FEBRUARY, 2026
REGARDING “NON-FUNCTIONAL WI-FI HOTSPOTS IN RURAL AREAS.”
(a) & (b) With a view to proliferate wi-fi hotspots across the country, including in rural areas,
Government has launched the Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI)
initiative. As on 31.1.2026, 52,733 wi-fi hotspots were installed in rural areas under the said
initiative, of which 94 hotspots were non-active.
(c) & (d) Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI)
is currently active Wi-Fi hotspot initiative of the department, in which, the Government's role is
primarily, one of policy enablement and providing a frame work. Further, as on 31.12.2025, a total
of 609 Workshops/Seminars, 318 Press Briefs, and 183 Advertisements have been undertaken by the
field offices of the department for proliferation of PM - WANI Scheme.
(e) Under Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) scheme, to address the
issues relating to proliferation of Public Wi-Fi Access Points, a series of interventions in the existing
PM-WANI Framework and Guidelines for Registrations has been issued by Department of
Telecommunication on 16.09.2024. These policy interventions include:
Allowing Public Data Offices (PDOs) to offer PM WANI through a regular FTTH connection
which will reduce their cost.
Allowing PDOs to aggregate their multiple Access point to a single backhaul towards the
ISP.
Allowing existing home or business Wi-Fi Access Points to join the larger PM-WANI
network, thereby utilizing their existing Access point as a source of revenue.
Allowing roaming between Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs) enabling end users to
switch between PM-WANI Wi-Fi hotspots of different PDOAs smoothly.
Allowing Public Data Offices (PDOs) to offer Mobile data offload by teaming up with
existing Telecom Servicer Providers.
Allowing Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs) and App providers to send content,
promotions, and branding messages to potential PM-WANI Wi-Fi users, after due user
consent.
Further, on 16.06.2025, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a
Telecommunication Tariff (71st Amendment) Order, 2025 related to tariff for retail broadband
connectivity for Public Data Offices (PDOs). This order mandates that all retail FTTH broadband
plans up to 200 Mbps must be offered to Public Data Offices (PDOs) at tariffs not more than
twice the corresponding consumer broadband price.
There is no provision of financial support mechanism to any State or Union Territory under
PM-WANI scheme.
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