TRAI mulls overhaul of public Wi-Fi rules to boost hotspot rollout; seeks new revenue models

India’s telecom regulator on Monday issued a consultation paper on overhauling rules and business models for public Wi-Fi, as it looks to speed up the rollout of hotspots that have lagged despite government backing.

The move comes at a time when India’s public Wi-Fi push, including under the PM-WANI framework, has struggled to scale due to weak revenues, low usage and concerns over security.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said it will examine “issues relating to authorisation, authentication, roaming, and billing systems within the Indian Public Wi-Fi ecosystem”, indicating possible changes to how easily providers can set up networks and how simply users can log in and move across hotspots.

The regulator is looking at ways to make the service financially viable, including “potential direct and indirect revenue models” such as paid access, advertising and enterprise offerings.

It also pointed to “freemium” models that offer limited free access before charging for extended use, a structure seen as suitable for transport hubs and campuses.

TRAI also highlighted community-led models funded initially through corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions, government support or non-profits, with operating costs later shared among users.

It said that revenue-sharing arrangements between hotspot providers, venue owners and service platforms could help distribute earnings across the ecosystem.

TRAI said Wi-Fi, backed by fixed broadband, can provide “high-speed, low-cost, and scalable connectivity” in crowded areas and help ease pressure on mobile networks.

The regulator said data generated from Wi-Fi usage, such as footfall and user behaviour, can also be monetised in aggregated form to help businesses and city planners make better decisions.

The paper also highlights that shared Wi-Fi access can lower the cost of internet usage compared with mobile data, potentially widening access for low-income users and small businesses.

TRAI has asked stakeholders to submit comments by May 25 and counter-comments by June 8, after which it is expected to firm up its recommendations on scaling up public Wi-Fi in the world’s second-largest internet market.