About PM-WANI

• Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) aims at setting up Public Wi-Fi Networks by Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs).
• The objective is to provide public Wi-Fi service through Public Data Offices (PDOs) spread across the length and breadth of the country.
• The project will accelerate proliferation of Broadband Internet services through the Public Wi-Fi network in the country.
• There shall be no license fee for providing Broadband Internet through these public Wi-Fi networks. 

Benefits of PM-WANI

• The proliferation of public Wi-Fi will not only create employment but also enhance disposable incomes in the hands of small and medium entrepreneurs and boost the GDP of the country.
• Availability and use of Broadband will enhance quality of life, ease of doing business etc.

Significance of PM-WANI

• It provides a robust foundation for delivering affordable internet access to a significant portion of society.
• The flexibility of this framework empowers aggregators (PDOAs) to capitalize on the internet distribution space, without the burden of additional licensing fees. 
• PM-WANI presents a golden opportunity to accelerate high-speed unlimited internet penetration, bridging the digital divide and empowering communities. (Currently, India’s home broadband penetration stands at one of the lowest in the world, hovering at around 10 per cent)
• PM-WANI can also nurture the growth of local nano entrepreneurs as they establish wi-fi hotspots and offer internet access to other users, enabling them to augment their monthly earnings while promoting internet usage through affordable sachet plans.
• By offering a cost-effective and reliable solution, it represents a beacon of hope for people in underserved areas. 
• It also benefits Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Telcos as they end up selling more bandwidth by making their end customers retailers.

Why in News?

• In a significant step towards digital empowerment, the Government of India launched the pilot project titled ‘Smart Gram Panchayat: Revolution towards Digitization of Gram Panchayat’ to extend PM-WANI (Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) Service in Gram Panchayats. 
• This path breaking initiative promises to mark a paradigm shift in rural connectivity and catalyze a digital revolution in the heartlands of Bihar. 
• The pilot project, funded under the revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) implemented by Ministry of Panchayati Raj, aims to extend the Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) service to 455 Gram Panchayats across 37 Blocks in the Districts of Begusarai and Rohtas in Bihar for the Financial Year 2023–24. 

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2005329