The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a comprehensive consultation paper on the "Proliferation of Public Wi-Fi Networks," identifying it as a strategic pillar for India’s digital economy. Despite the success of the PM-WANI (Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) framework, which has deployed over 4.1 lakh hotspots as of April 2026, India has yet to meet its 2022 target of 10 million hotspots.
The paper emphasizes the strong affordability advantage of fixed-line public Wi-Fi. While mobile data typically costs around ₹8 per GB, public Wi-Fi can deliver internet access for as little as ₹0.27 per GB, making it significantly cheaper for students, low-income households, and small businesses. This makes public Wi-Fi especially important for bridging the digital divide in underserved urban and rural areas.
TRAI identifies both supply-side and demand-side barriers slowing expansion. On the supply side, high backhaul costs, limited last-mile fibre connectivity, and Right of Way (RoW) delays reduce commercial viability for small providers. On the demand side, the current OTP-based authentication system creates user friction and discourages repeated use.
To improve adoption, TRAI proposes a shift toward Passpoint and OpenRoaming technologies, which allow users to connect automatically to trusted Wi-Fi networks without repeated logins, similar to the experience of mobile networks. It also recommends moving toward Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 standards, stronger WPA3 security, and integrating UPI-based payment models to improve monetisation for Public Data Offices (PDOs).
Drawing on international successes like the EU’s WiFi4EU and South Korea's municipal models, the paper suggests a shift toward a "Whole-of-Government" approach, integrating UPI for instant payments and simplifying Right of Way (RoW) approvals to make public Wi-Fi a commercially viable and secure alternative to mobile data.
Key Strategic Benchmarks and Constraints
Affordability Gap: Public Wi-Fi offers a 96% cost reduction per GB compared to 4G/5G mobile data.
PM-WANI Growth: 4.1 lakh hotspots active; framework praised for "light-touch" regulation allowing small entrepreneurs (PDOs) to provide internet.
Technology Leap: Recommending a transition to Wi-Fi 6/7 and WPA3 security to address public trust deficits.
Authentication Reform: Proposed shift from OTP-based onboarding to Passpoint/OpenRoaming for a cellular-like experience.
Monetization Models: Exploration of "Freemium," ad-supported, and UPI-bundled payment models for sustainability.
Infrastructure Bottleneck: Limited last-mile fiber and high backhaul costs identified as the primary hurdles for PDOs.
What is "Passpoint" (Hotspot 2.0)?
Passpoint is a technology that allows your mobile device to automatically discover and connect to a Wi-Fi hotspot without you having to find the network name or enter a password. It works much like how your phone automatically connects to a cell tower when you travel. In the current Indian setup, users often have to wait for an OTP (One-Time Password) which can be slow or fail. With Passpoint, once you have signed up with a provider, your phone "handshakes" with any participating hotspot securely and instantly, making public Wi-Fi as seamless and safe as using mobile data.
Policy Relevance
Supports 5G Data Offloading: By encouraging public Wi-Fi, telecom operators can offload heavy data traffic (video streaming) from congested 5G towers, improving overall network quality and reducing Mobile Data Congestion.
Democratises High-Speed Access: At ₹0.27/GB, public Wi-Fi is the most practical way to deliver 100 Mbps+ speeds to rural students and small businesses who may find 5G handsets too expensive.
Boosts "Smart Cities" Governance: Since only 39 of 100 Smart Cities have working public Wi-Fi, the TRAI framework acts as a rehabilitation roadmap to finally connect municipal services with high-speed hotspots.
Empowers Micro-Entrepreneurs: The PM-WANI model transforms local kirana shops into internet providers. This creates a fresh source of rural livelihood and moves economic growth beyond major hubs.
Institutionalises Cybersecurity: By requiring WPA3 and Secure API Governance, TRAI is tackling the image of public Wi-Fi as "unreliable." This shift is key to increasing trust in digital payments and e-governance.
Follow The Full Paper Here: TRAI Consultation Paper on Proliferation of Public Wi-Fi Networks