‘Low-cost broadband services is a basic requirement’: TRAI
06 Apr 2018
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The availability of broadband services at a very low cost all over the country is a basic requirement for Digital India, says the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
And in pursuit of that objective, it has suggested the concept of Public Data Office Providers (PDOs), similar to the PCOs of the past, to boost Wi-Fi connectivity in the country, besides slashing costs by nearly 90 per cent.
TRAI chairman RS Sharma presented a report on Public Wi-Fi Open Pilot Project to the government, following the publicatioin of a consultation paper on ‘Proliferation of Broadband through Public Wi-Fi networks.’
The TRAI recommendation envisages a Wi-Fi network architecture that supports one time authentication requirement, interoperability across different Wi-Fi networks, ease of payment through any instrument and above all inexpensive service.
According to the agency, products that will available should be ‘sachet-sized,’ – those of low denomination of Rs2. This would boost Wi-Fi services in rural areas as well.
The regulator envisages small merchants and other units would become PDOs, offering Wi-Fi hotspots to the public either free or through a paid model.
"The public Wi-Fi pilot outcome aims to offer a seamless experience to end users,” says the TRAI. “This will allow small entrepreneurs such as tea shops and grocery shops to set up and maintain access points. Whereas, device manufacturers, payment companies, Internet Service Providers/Telcos and consumer internet companies can provide the remaining pieces to set up PDOs.”
