The growth of Internet penetration in India and realisation of its full potential is closely tied to the proliferation of broadband services. WLANs created using Wi-Fi technology can be used for extending the "last-mile connectivity" of broadband connections to a wider segment of users. Wi-Fi networks can offer affordable, scalable and versatile technologies that can facilitate the spread of Internet access in rural and urban areas alike.

It is felt that Wi-Fi hotspots can be proliferated in every nook and corner of the country and it should be possible to set up such hotspots by shop owners and unemployed youths. Such a model will work much like a Public Call Office (PCO) with the advantage that the operator of the Wi-Fi hotspot will not be serving the customer physically as all the transactions will happen electronically. ISPs will also be encouraged as there will be an increased consumption of data by the public. The model will also provide a boost to generation of employment in the country.

The objective of this Consultation Paper (CP) is to examine the need of encouraging public Wi-Fi networks in the country from a public policy point of view, discuss the issues in its proliferation and find out solutions for the same.

In this paper, “public Wi-Fi networks” has broader meaning and not limited to the Wi-Fi hotspot created by licensed TSP/ISP at public places. There could be small entrepreneurs or even a very small entity which would like to participate in common and shared Wi-Fi network for larger public use.

The CP raises the issues of various regulatory/licensing or policy measures required to encourage ubiquitous city-wide Wi-Fi networks as well as expansion of Wi-Fi networks in remote or rural areas. The CP also touches upon interoperability between the Wi-Fi networks of different service providers as also between cellular and Wi-Fi networks, frequency bands, payment and authentication procedure to access Wi-Fi.

Consultation Paper on Proliferation of Broadband through Public Wi-Fi Networks

Last date for submitting your suggestions is 24th August, 2016.