The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) yesterday released a consultation paper on the ‘Proliferation of Public Wi-Fi Networks in India’, calling for a comprehensive reassessment of the regulatory and policy framework to accelerate deployment of public Wi-Fi infrastructure, improve affordability, and expand broadband access.

The paper reviews the current ecosystem, examines global best practices, identifies key bottlenecks, and seeks stakeholder inputs on measures involving governments, local bodies and private players to drive large-scale adoption.

Highlighting the growing demand for high-speed data amid rising digital consumption, TRAI underscored the role of public Wi-Fi as a low-cost, high-capacity complement to mobile networks that can help ease congestion and extend connectivity, particularly in dense urban areas and underserved regions. The paper notes that despite significant growth in broadband usage, India’s public Wi-Fi footprint remains limited relative to its population and data needs, indicating substantial untapped potential.

A key focus of the consultation is the assessment of the existing public Wi-Fi ecosystem, including deployment trends, usage patterns and the effectiveness of initiatives such as interoperable hotspot frameworks. TRAI points to the need for a coordinated approach to infrastructure expansion, including leveraging street furniture, public buildings and transport hubs to increase hotspot density while ensuring seamless user experience.

The regulator, in its background research to the consultation paper, has also examined international models to draw lessons for India, including regulatory simplification, light-touch licensing, and innovative business models that incentivise private participation. The paper emphasises that global experiences suggest strong collaboration between governments and industry is critical for scaling up public Wi-Fi networks sustainably.

Among the major challenges identified are issues relating to high backhaul costs, limited monetisation avenues, fragmented implementation, and lack of awareness among potential users and small entrepreneurs. TRAI has sought views on enabling viable revenue models, including advertising-based access, bundled services, and partnerships with local enterprises to improve the commercial attractiveness of public Wi-Fi deployment.

The consultation paper further explores regulatory and licensing aspects, including whether existing frameworks require simplification to reduce entry barriers for public data office aggregators and other service providers. It also raises questions on spectrum usage, quality of service standards, security requirements, and interoperability to ensure reliable and secure connectivity for users.

Another important area covered is the role of various stakeholders —central and state governments, municipal bodies, telecom service providers, internet service providers and startups — in facilitating rapid rollout. TRAI has invited suggestions on policy interventions, incentives and institutional mechanisms needed to promote coordinated action and investment in the sector.

The paper also flags the importance of addressing digital divide concerns by prioritising deployment in rural and remote areas, where public Wi-Fi can serve as an affordable access medium. It seeks inputs on targeted schemes, funding support and innovative deployment models to extend connectivity to underserved populations.

TRAI has invited comments from stakeholders by May 25, with counter-comments to follow, as it moves towards framing recommendations aimed at unlocking the full potential of public Wi-Fi as a key pillar of India’s digital infrastructure.