PM-WANI public Wi-Fi programme faces backlash from telcos over TRAI’s new order for broadband leased strains

The Centre’s public Wi-Fi programme beneath PM-WANI (Prime Minister WIFI Community Interface) is in hassle as Reliance Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Thought have blamed the telecom regulator for lack of transparency whereas issuing a brand new order that asks telcos to supply broadband leased strains to the programme distributors on the identical fee as retail clients.

“By forcing any telecom service suppliers (TSP) to supply the community inputs to a different service suppliers at a regulated value, the proposal violates the elemental rights of the licensed TSPs enshrined in article 14 and article 19(1) (g) of the structure of India,” Reliance Jio stated in response To the TRAI

Airtel stated that the modification proposed by TRAI if enforced, “won’t solely have unlucky, unintended penalties in a aggressive market the place there isn’t a market failure but additionally probably upend the very fundamentals of the regulatory construction by forcing TSPs to offer charges of the FTTH connections (meant for finish customers) for functions of backhaul companies. The draft TTO (tariff order) modification is the wrong treatment on the subject of the failing / diminishing pursuits of customers with regard to public WiFi hotspots” Airtel stated. 

lack of transparency

The Mobile Operators Affiliation of India questioned the dearth of transparency by the TRAI. “We perceive that earlier than issuing this Draft-TTO, TRAI ought to have completed a session on the desirability of (public information workplace) PDO service, within the mild of the present proliferation of 4G/5G companies and availability of knowledge companies on the most cost-effective fee on the planet. Additional, it’s also vital to spotlight that within the regular course, TRAI transparently annexes the reference acquired from DoT or the communication exchanged with the licensor. Nonetheless, on this case, solely reference to DoT’s communication of November 2022 has been made within the explanatory memorandum of the Draft TTO however the communication has not been annexed for the data of stakeholders to offer their thought-about feedback,” COAI stated. 

“The hands-off method employed by TRAI when it comes to a coverage of forbearance on the subject of telecom tariffs has been basic to the expansion and improvement of the sector in addition to encouraging wholesome competitors out there as effectively. This has led to a scenario the place customers really feel no urge to make use of public WiFi hotspots. As an alternative, they slightly love utilizing Telco cell information. The deployment of public WiFi hotspots beneath the PDO mannequin itself are insignificant,” COAI added. 

Vodafone Thought has additionally stated that there was no want for PDOs in a market the place cell broadband companies had been accessible at inexpensive charges.

In 2020, the Centre launched the idea of Public Wi-Fi Networks by Public Information Workplace Aggregators (PDOAs) to supply public Wi-Fi service by way of Public Information Workplaces (PDOs) unfold throughout the size and breadth of the nation to speed up the proliferation of Broadband Web companies by way of Public Wi-Fi community within the nation. Nonetheless, to this point this programme has not taken off as a result of numerous challenges.