TRAI Releases Consultation Paper on “Proliferation of Public Wi-Fi Networks in India"

Posted On: 27 APR 2026 12:28PM by PIB Delhi The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today released a Consultation Paper on the "Proliferation of Public Wi-Fi Networks in India". This Consultation Paper reviews the existing regulatory framework, identifies challenges affecting the proliferation of public Wi-Fi networks, and invites comments from stakeholders on measures to accelerate the growth of public Wi-Fi infrastructure across the country. The Consultation Paper covers the following key areas: Overview of the Public Wi-Fi ecosystem in other countries and key takeaways from international experiences and global best practices. Assessment of the current status of Public Wi-Fi in India, including deployment trends and demand patterns. Identification of key issues and challenges affecting Public Wi-Fi proliferation in the country. Examining the roles of key stakeholders such as Central and State Governments, local bodies, TSPs/ISPs, and private entities for developing viable Public Wi-Fi models across rural areas, urban centres, and high-footfall locations. Examination of issues relating to authorisation, authentication, roaming, and billing systems within the Indian Public Wi-Fi ecosystem. Analysis of potential direct and indirect revenue models suitable for ensuring the sustainability of Public Wi-Fi in the Indian context. The Consultation Paper has been placed on TRAI’s Website www.trai.gov.in . Written comments on the consultation paper are invited from stakeholders by 25 th May 2026 and counter-comments, if any, by 8 th June 2026. The comments may be sent in electronic form at advbbpa@trai.gov.in with a copy to jtadvbbpa-1@trai.gov.in . For any clarification/information, Dr. Abdul Kayum, Advisor (Broadband and Policy Analysis), TRAI may be contacted at Telephone Number Tel. No. +91-11 20907757. **** NJ/ARJ (Release ID: 2255809) Visitor Counter : 829 Read this release in: Bengali , Bengali-TR , Kannada , Gujarati , Urdu , हिन्दी , Manipuri Ministry of Communications TRAI Releases Consultation Paper on “Proliferation of Public Wi-Fi Networks in India" Posted On: 27 APR 2026 12:28PM by PIB Delhi The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today released a Consultation Paper on the "Proliferation of Public Wi-Fi Networks in India". This Consultation Paper reviews the existing regulatory framework, identifies challenges affecting the proliferation of public Wi-Fi networks, and invites comments from stakeholders on measures to accelerate the growth of public Wi-Fi infrastructure across the country. The Consultation Paper covers the following key areas: Overview of the Public Wi-Fi ecosystem in other countries and key takeaways from international experiences and global best practices. Assessment of the current status of Public Wi-Fi in India, including deployment trends and demand patterns. Identification of key issues and challenges affecting Public Wi-Fi proliferation in the country. Examining the roles of key stakeholders such as Central and State Governments, local bodies, TSPs/ISPs, and private entities for developing viable Public Wi-Fi models across rural areas, urban centres, and high-footfall locations. Examination of issues relating to authorisation, authentication, roaming, and billing systems within the Indian Public Wi-Fi ecosystem. Analysis of potential direct and indirect revenue models suitable for ensuring the sustainability of Public Wi-Fi in the Indian context. The Consultation Paper has been placed on TRAI’s Website www.trai.gov.in . Written comments on the consultation paper are invited from stakeholders by 25 th May 2026 and counter-comments, if any, by 8 th June 2026. The comments may be sent in electronic form at advbbpa@trai.gov.in with a copy to jtadvbbpa-1@trai.gov.in . For any clarification/information, Dr. Abdul Kayum, Advisor (Broadband and Policy Analysis), TRAI may be contacted at Telephone Number Tel. No. +91-11 20907757. **** NJ/ARJ (Release ID: 2255809) <span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px">The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today released a Consultation Paper on the "Proliferation of Public Wi-Fi Networks in India". </span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px">This Consultation Paper reviews the existing regulatory framework, identifies challenges affecting the proliferation of public Wi-Fi networks, and invites comments from stakeholders on measures to accelerate the growth of public Wi-Fi infrastructure across the country. The Consultation Paper covers the following key areas:</span></span></p> <ul style="margin-left:40px"> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px">Overview of the Public Wi-Fi ecosystem in other countries and key takeaways from international experiences and global best practices.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px">Assessment of the current status of Public Wi-Fi in India, including deployment trends and demand patterns.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px">Identification of key issues and challenges affecting Public Wi-Fi proliferation in the country.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px">Examining the roles of key stakeholders such as Central and State Governments, local bodies, TSPs/ISPs, and private entities for developing viable Public Wi-Fi models across rural areas, urban centres, and high-footfall locations.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px">Examination of issues relating to authorisation, authentication, roaming, and billing systems within the Indian Public Wi-Fi ecosystem. </span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px">Analysis of potential direct and indirect revenue models suitable for ensuring the sustainability of Public Wi-Fi in the Indian context.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px">The Consultation Paper has been placed on TRAI’s Website <a href="http://www.trai.gov.in">www.trai.gov.in</a>. Written comments on the consultation paper are invited from stakeholders by 25th May 2026 and counter-comments, if any, by 8th June 2026.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px">The comments may be sent in electronic form at <a href="mailto:advbbpa@trai.gov.in">advbbpa@trai.gov.in</a>&nbsp; with a copy to <a href="mailto:jtadvbbpa-1@trai.gov.in">jtadvbbpa-1@trai.gov.in</a>. For any clarification/information, Dr. Abdul Kayum, Advisor (Broadband and Policy Analysis), TRAI may be contacted at Telephone Number Tel. No. +91-11 20907757.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:right">&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px">****</span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px">NJ/ARJ</span></span></strong></p> " /> var mPlayer = document.getElementById("background_music"); var mPlayAction = document.getElementById("playbutton"); var isPlaying = false; function playAudio() { mPlayer.play(); isPlaying = true; document.getElementById('stopA').style.display = "block"; document.getElementById('playA').style.display = "none"; } function pauseAudio() { mPlayer.pause(); isPlaying = false; document.getElementById('playA').style.display = "block"; document.getElementById('stopA').style.display = "none"; } //function HandleAudio() { // if (isPlaying == true) { // //Playing already Pause it // pauseAudio(); // } else { // //Play the music // playAudio(); // } //} var synth = window.speechSynthesis; function CleanHtml(html) { html = html.replace(/ /gi, ''); return html; } function stripHtml(html) { let tmp = document.createElement("DIV"); tmp.innerHTML = CleanHtml(html); return tmp.textContent || tmp.innerText || ""; } $(document).ready(function () { //for responsive tables $("table").each(function () { if (!$(this).closest(".table-responsive").length) { $(this).wrap(" "); } }); var width = $(window).width(); if (width $(document).ready(function () { var width = $(window).width(); if (width @media print { .sticky-social, .sticky-social_mb, .pull-right, #printPDF { display: none !important; } } .f_vl { padding-right: 30px; font-size: 17px; cursor: pointer; } .log_oo { // width: 20%; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; } .log_oo img { width: 150px; /*width: 100%; height: auto;*/ } .sticky-social_mb { position: fixed; bottom: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; width: 100%; } .social_mb { list-style: none; display: flex; width: 100%; margin-bottom: -8px; } .social_mb a { padding: 8px 0px; font-size: 30px; transition: all 0.8s ease-in-out; width: 20% !important; text-align: center; } .section1 { position: relative; padding: 10px 0px; width: 100%; } .sticky-social { position: fixed; top: 20px; left: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; } .social { list-style: none; } .social a li { padding: 8px 12px; font-size: 25px; transition: all 0.8s ease-in-out; } .social a li:hover { margin-right: -30px; box-shadow: 2px 5px 10px grey; } .social a li:hover .fa { margin-left: 20px; } .fb_b { /* background-color: rgb(59, 89, 152);*/ background-color: rgba(65,103,178,255); } .twitter_r { /* background-color: rgb(29, 161, 242);*/ background-color: #000000; } .whatsapp_r { /* background-color: rgb(77, 194, 71);*/ background-color: rgba(13,191,67,255); } .fa-envelope_r { /* background-color: rgb(219, 68, 55);*/ background-color: #e2123d; } .fa-linkedin_r { background-color: rgb(0, 119, 181); } @media only screen and (max-device-width: 767px) { p span img { max-width: 90% !important; height: auto !important; } p img { max-width: 90% !important; height: auto !important; } h2 { font-size: 20px !important; font-weight: 600 !important; } h3 { font-size: 18px !important; font-weight: 600 !important; } } /* === Film Roll Badge Styling(IFFI2025 countdown) === */ .film-roll-badge { position: absolute; top:82%; right: 20px; width: 230px; height: 70px; background: repeating-linear-gradient( to right, #9a2375 0px, #9a2375 18px, #6e2b8b 18px, #6e2b8b 36px ); border-top: 8px solid #9a2375; border-bottom: 8px solid #9a2375; border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4); animation: moveFilm 8s linear infinite; z-index: 10; } /* film sprocket holes */ .film-roll-badge::before, .film-roll-badge::after { content: ""; position: absolute; width: 100%; height: 10px; background: repeating-linear-gradient( to right, #9a2375 0px, #9a2375 10px, #fff 10px, #fff 20px ); left: 0; z-index: 2; } .film-roll-badge::before { top: -4px; } .film-roll-badge::after { bottom: -4px; } .film-roll-inner { position: relative; height: 100%; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; animation: flicker 2s infinite ease-in-out; } .countdown-text { font-size: 1.3rem; font-weight: 700; color: #fff; text-shadow: 0 0 6px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.4), 0 0 10px #000; white-space: nowrap; } /* === Animations === */ @keyframes moveFilm { 0% { background-position: 0 0; } 100% { background-position: 120px 0; } } @keyframes flicker { 0%, 100% { opacity: 1; } 50% { opacity: 0.9; } 25% { opacity: 0.95; } 75% { opacity: 0.85; } } /* === Responsive Adjustments === */ @media (max-width: 1500px) { .film-roll-badge { top: 68%; right: 18px; /* width: 220px; */ height: 65px; font-size: 0.85rem; } .press-section { margin-top: 35px; } } @media (max-width: 992px) { .film-roll-badge { top: 52%; right: 10px; width: 200px; height: 60px; } } @media (max-width: 768px) { .film-roll-badge { top: 56%; right: 10px; width: 124px; height: 55px; } .countdown-text { font-size: 0.9rem; } } @media (max-width: 576px) { .film-roll-badge { top: 59%; right: 5px; /* width: 160px; */ height: 50px; } .countdown-text { font-size: 0.85rem; } } const festivalStart = new Date("2025-11-20T00:00:00").getTime(); const festivalEnd = new Date("2025-11-28T23:59:59").getTime(); const countdownElement = document.getElementById("countdown"); const interval = setInterval(() => { const now = new Date().getTime(); // BEFORE FESTIVAL — show days + hours left if (now = festivalStart && now el.style.width = "350px"); clearInterval(interval); } }, 1000); //