The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has rolled out a set of user-facing reforms to India’s public Wi-Fi infrastructure under the PM-WANI (Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) framework. The new upgrades are aimed at making public internet access simpler, more affordable and easier to identify. All PM-WANI stakeholders have been given eight weeks to implement the revised guidelines, meaning the new features should be live across the ecosystem by July 2026.
PM-WANI is a Government of India program designed to deliver affordable public internet access across the country through a decentralised network of Wi-Fi hotspots. Rather than relying on large telecom operators alone, the scheme allows local shopkeepers and small entrepreneurs to set up hotspots called Public Data Offices (PDOs) and sell low-cost internet to users without requiring complex telecom licences.
The framework operates on four pillars: PDOs (the physical hotspot operators), Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs, which handle the technical backend and authorise PDOs), app providers (mobile applications through which users discover hotspots and buy plans) and a central registry that oversees all registered networks and applications. Launched under the Digital India initiative, PM-WANI is intended to extend meaningful internet access to areas with limited 4G coverage and to boost incomes for small and medium businesses running hotspot access points.
The DoT has introduced three concrete changes to the PM-WANI experience.
QR-based login for laptops and secondary devices
Until now, connecting a laptop to a PM-WANI hotspot involved a cumbersome login process. Under the revised guidelines, users can scan a QR code on the hotspot’s login page using an authenticated smartphone app to connect secondary devices like laptops thereby reducing friction and improving security.
Short-duration plans
Hotspot operators have been advised to offer sachet-style validity plans of 15, 30 and 60 minutes. These are aimed squarely at users who need brief internet access at transit hubs, malls and other public spaces including commuters, students and travellers who don’t need a full-day or multi-day pack.
Standardised hotspot names (SSIDs)
PM-WANI hotspot names will now carry consistent PMWANI branding, making it straightforward for users to identify legitimate public Wi-Fi networks and avoid connecting to lookalike or rogue hotspots.