The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has mooted a concept of open architecture-based public Wi-Fi grid to bring down the cost of internet by 90 per cent.

By doing so, it will allow small entrepreneurs such as tea stalls, grocery shops and vendors to set up and maintain access points. Device manufacturers, payment companies, ISPs/telcos and consumer internet companies can provide the remaining pieces to set up public data offices (PDOs), it said on Thursday.

“Broadband proliferation across the country is an important pillar of ‘Digital India’. Wi-Fi is the cheapest option, given low-cost of equipment and free spectrum,” RS Sharma, Chairman, TRAI, said.

The regulator’s concept involves PDOs — much like PCOs of yesteryears that galvanised connectivity. The PDOs will be companies, or even small merchants, interested in providing Wi-Fi hotspots to public either free or on payment model, it said.

Cost-effective

Sharma presented a report on ‘public Wi-Fi open pilot project’ to Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha, outlining the success of the first phase of trials it had conducted.

According to the report, the products available for consumption should begin from ‘sachet sized’, that is, low denomination, as low as ₹2.

It said users should be able to easily discover the network, do one-click authentication and payment and connect their devices in Wi-Fi hotspots. “The experience for small entrepreneurs to purchase, self register, set up a PDO must be simple, low touch and maintenance free,” it said.

TRAI had earlier come out with recommendations on proliferation of broadband through public Wi-Fi networks that were sent to DoT on March 9.

The regulator has now suggested moving ahead from the pilot to the next phase, which will involve working with the participants of the pilot in Delhi and Bengaluru, and creation of a testing and certification framework.

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