The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has advised telecom operators and public Wi-Fi providers to introduce sachet-style internet plans under the PM-WANI scheme to improve access to affordable internet services at public locations such as railway stations, airports, malls, bus terminals, and marketplaces.
Under the new recommendation, users will be able to access Wi-Fi services through short-duration plans of 15, 30, and 60 minutes. The initiative is aimed at benefiting commuters, students, and other users who require internet connectivity for limited periods. The government believes these low-cost plans will also help increase hotspot usage and generate better revenue opportunities for operators.
To improve user trust and simplify access, the DoT has also standardised hotspot identification through PMWANI-branded SSID names, allowing users to easily identify genuine public Wi-Fi networks.
Launched as part of the Digital India mission, the PM-WANI (Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) initiative is designed to expand affordable public internet access across the country through a network of Public Data Offices (PDOs), PDO Aggregators (PDOAs), and app providers.
The latest reforms are expected to strengthen India’s public Wi-Fi ecosystem and accelerate digital connectivity in both urban and rural areas.
