A Winning Formula for Digital Inclusion

The BharatNet-PM-Wani combo can bridge our digital divide, empower local economies, and secure India's place as a leader in people-centric digital innovation

- TV RAMACHANDRAN

BHARATNET, THE world's largest rural optical fibre roll-out project, has quietly been laying the groundwork for India's digital future. Covering about two lakh gram panchayats, with a target of connecting every village, BharatNet delivers high-speed, scalable broadband infrastructure deep into the hinterlands. On top of this backbone for last-mile connectivity, the Prime Minister's Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-Wani) decentralises this broadband access. Powered by unlicensed spectrum and light-touch regulations, it is envisioned to offer affordable, open Wi-Fi services through millions of public data offices (PDOs)—local entrepreneurs, kirana shops, and small businesses.

A huge opportunity awaits us in public Wi-Fi. The ruling telecom policy, the National Digital Communications Policy 2018, targeted 10 million hotspots by 2022 and the National 6G Vision has asked for 50 million public Wi-Fi hotspots by 2030. France, a smaller nation, is reported to have 13 million public Wi-Fi hotspots, according to data from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. Against these benchmarks, India has barely 0.5 million—quite depressing. However, deploying the synergistic duo of BharatNet and PM-Wani, India can be quite optimistic because of the following advantages.

Last mile connectivity, at last within reach: In many rural areas, the economics of mobile towers or private broadband extensions simply don't add up. Sparse populations and difficult terrains deter investments. Using BharatNet and PM-Wani, where once there were connectivity black holes, there can now be Wi-Fi beacons lighting up villages, bus stops, community halls, and marketplaces.