Policy decisions on public Wi-Fi, PLI scheme for telecom a big positive, says STL Group CEO

The recently-announced WANI framework for public Wi-Fi networks will velocity up broadband proliferation, particularly in rural areas, and scheme together with the collection of different coverage measures like PLI for telecom augurs nicely for the sector and Digital India highway map, a prime official of Sterlite Technologies (STL) has stated.

Anand Agarwal, Group CEO of Sterlite Technologies, a digital networks integrator, stated that the federal government’s thrust on public Wi-Fi could be “complementary” to the transfer to attach over six lakh villages in India with optical fibre. WANI would drive broadband entry on the final mile via localised distribution channels and availability of bite-sized information subscription, say Rs 5-10 packs, Agarwal informed PTI.

Last week, the federal government accepted establishing of public Wi-Fi networks and entry factors by native kirana and neighbourhood outlets via public information workplaces mannequin that won’t contain any licence, payment or registration. The public Wi-Fi networks, below WANI, would have an structure involving a number of gamers — Public Data Office (PDO), Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs) and app suppliers.

“The recent announcements by the government over last few months highlight the realisation of Digital India, and all the actions are in accordance with that. The announcements on taking fibre to six lakh villages, the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for telecom equipment, and WANI are a big positive,” Agarwal stated.

By bringing native entrepreneurs into the equation, WANI would do for Wi-Fi and broadband propagation what PCOs had executed for calling and voice connectivity, he stated.

“It is a scheme similar to PCO or local cable TV operators…WANI will unleash Wi-Fi and broadband propagation especially in rural areas. We see this in conjunction with fact that as fibre reaches the villages, having Wi-Fi connectivity inside village, maybe by a village level entrepreneur setting up Public Data office there, will increase the broadband access through localised distribution channel and availability of bite-sized data subscription, say Rs 5-10 packs,” Agarwal added.

The transfer would give an additional impetus for taking fibre to villages and establishing Wi-Fi entry factors there, Agarwal stated including that the corporate anticipated extra enterprise alternatives to come up from the current bulletins. Under the WANI framework, PDO will set up, keep and function Wi-Fi entry factors and ship broadband companies to subscribers, whereas PDOA will act as an aggregator of PDOs and carry out the capabilities regarding authorisation and accounting. App supplier will probably be accountable for growing software to register customers and uncover WANI compliant Wi-Fi hotspots within the close by space and show the identical inside the app for accessing the web service.

A central registry will keep the main points of app suppliers, PDOAs, and PDOs. To start with, the central registry will probably be maintained by C-DoT. No registration could be required for PDOs, whereas PDOAs and app suppliers must get themselves registered with the telecom division via the web registration portal with out paying any payment. The registration will probably be granted inside seven days of making use of.