The Prime Minister's Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) framework aims to accelerate proliferation of internet services by setting up public Wi-Fi Hotspots in the country with the objective of building digital India and consequential benefits thereon.

Under the PM-WANI framework, Public Data Offices (PDOs) establish, operate and maintain WANI compliant Wi-Fi Hotspots based on their techno-commercial considerations and deliver internet services to subscribers. PDOs need to partner with a Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA) to deliver internet services.

To ensure equitable access to Wi-Fi services, Department, through its Field Units, promotes the PM-WANI scheme by organizing seminars, press briefs and advertisements. Till October, 2024 for PM-WANI awareness 516 workshops/ seminars, 298 press briefs and 172 advertisements have been undertaken by the Department.

Further, to provide access to internet in rural regions, the Union Cabinet has approved the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) on 04.08.2023 to be funded from Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN). The program envisages to provide optical fiber connectivity to 2.64 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) and to provide optical fiber connectivity to approximately 3.8 lakh non-GP villages on a demand basis. Additionally, the program plans to offer Internet Leased Line (ILL) bandwidth across 7,269 Blocks and ensure a minimum download speed of 25 Mbps for each Fiber to the Home (FTTH) subscriber. The program also envisages to provide 1.50 crore home fiber connections to rural households, institutions, and enterprises over a period of five years.

Number of unique PM-WANI users in the country, as on 05.12.2024, are 18,19,674 and total data consumed is 58.55 PB (petabytes).

This information was given by the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr.Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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