Finally,it seems someone is talking sense about our internet situation . The Broadband India Forum (BIF) has welcomed TRAI's move to officially recognize Public Wi-Fi as a proper part of India's broadband system. And honestly,it's about time .
BIF is basically saying what we all feel,that just relying on mobile networks is not going to be enough to make India truly digital . They are arguing that Public Wi-Fi can make things better,cheaper and improve experience for everyone.
And they have a point ah . Public Wi-Fi is not just for getting internet in cafes . It can improve indoor connectivity where mobile signal is weak,and also reduce crazy traffic on mobile networks. Imagine less call drops and faster speeds during peak hours .
But this won't happen automatically . BIF is pushing for proper national strategy. This means focusing on building right infrastructure,getting more companies involved,and most importantly,making regular people aware of the benefits.
Few things they are pushing for:
- Integrating PM-WANI with big networks like BharatNet to spread hotspots faster.
- Running big awareness campaigns so people actually know about and trust Public Wi-Fi .
- Pushing for newer tech like Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 to keep India updated .
And tbh,this integration part is very smart . Using existing government assets like BharatNet and state fibre networks to give boost to PM-WANI initiative is the only way to get this done on large scale .
The BIF President,TV Ramachandran,called Public Wi-Fi a "strategic form of digital public infrastructure" that can help bridge digital divide . He said PM-WANI has opened up the ecosystem after years of restrictions,and now it should be allowed to grow properly.
They also mentioned needing things like easy roaming between different Wi-Fi networks,just like we have with mobile phones . And of course,making sure new devices supporting Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 are affordable and even made in India.
This whole thing sounds very promising on paper . Getting local municipalities to act like partners instead of just permission-givers is also a big step.
But will it all come together? The ideas are all there,the need is definitely there . challenge is always getting all these different government bodies and private players to work together without getting stuck in red tape…
