Twitter
Advertisement

TRAI explores public WiFi models, expects 90% cut in data costs

The system, if deemed plausible, could provide faster and cheaper internet to citizens.

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Telecom regulator TRAI today sought public views on allowing non-telecom companies to participate in setting up public WiFi hotspots, which could eventually slash internet rates by up to 90 percent, while offering faster speeds.

The regulator has sought public views by August 10 on a slew of issues, including regulatory hurdles, licensing restrictions, business models, interoperability between WiFi networks and de-licensing of more mobile airwaves. "In this paper, 'public WiFi networks' has a broader meaning and not limited to the WiFi hotspot created by licensed TSP/ISPs at public places. There could be small entrepreneurs or even a very small entity which would like to participate in a common and shared WiFi network for larger public use," TRAI said in its paper on Proliferation of Broadband through Public Wi-Fi Networks.

Other issues that would be deliberated by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India include policy measures to encourage policy measures required to encourage the deployment of commercial models for city-wide WiFi networks as well as expansion of WiFi networks in remote or rural areas. Public views have also been sought on the adoption of a "hub-based model" where a central third party Authentication, Authorization and Accounting hub will facilitate interconnection, authentication and payments and who should own and control such hub.

The regulator said that it is estimated that costs for a WiFi Network could be less than 2 paise per MB, while consumers on an average are paying around 23 paise per MB for the data usage in the cellular network like 2G, 3G and 4G. "This shows that the consumer tariff for data may reduce as much as one-tenth in WiFi compared to mobile data. From the above, it is obvious that deployment of WiFi network will not only enhance the speed of internet but also it will make data affordable to consumers," Trai said.

The regulator said that the status of WiFi hotspots in India is not encouraging as, while the country represents one-sixth of the world population, its share in WiFi hotspots is less than one-thousandth. Globally, the increase in the number of WiFi hotspots from 2013 to 2016 has been 568 percent whereas India has an increase of 12 percent only. At present, there are only 31,518 hotspots, with 13,967 installed in cafes, TRAI said. 

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement