TRAI consulte la prolifération du Wi-Fi public alors que Telcos s'oppose à l'expansion

Telecom operators, including COAI, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea (VIL), and Reliance Jio, have submitted formal responses to TRAI's consultation regarding the proliferation of public Wi-Fi networks, arguing that the expansion of such infrastructure is unnecessary in India's current market reality.

What Changed

The core argument from the industry is that India presents an "entirely inverted market reality" compared to Europe or South Korea. While public Wi-Fi models succeeded in foreign markets where mobile data was expensive, India's mobile broadband has already emerged as the primary connectivity layer. Operators noted that broadband subscribers have grown from 137 million in 2015 to over one billion in 2025, driven by falling data prices and surging consumption.

Who Is Affected

• Telecom Operators: COAI, Airtel, VIL, and Jio expressed concerns regarding "structurally asymmetric competitive landscapes." They argued that operators, who contribute heavily to the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) corpus and bear significant spectrum and license costs, should not be required to fund a competing, subsidized ecosystem.
• Public Wi-Fi Providers (PM-WANI): Reliance Jio specifically criticized the PM-WANI model, stating that attempting to replicate the Public Call Office (PCO) success was ill-timed, as the framework was introduced after 4G data became ubiquitous and affordable.
• Policymakers: The submissions urge TRAI and the Government to move away from regulatory interventions and instead focus on technology-neutral incentives that bridge genuine coverage gaps.

Operational Impact and Key Provisions

Operators highlighted several barriers to public Wi-Fi adoption, including complex discovery processes, authentication requirements, and security concerns. While Jio acknowledged that public Wi-Fi retains some value in high-density areas like railway stations, bus terminals, and cricket stadiums, they emphasized that any expansion must be preceded by improvements in fixed broadband infrastructure.

Vodafone Idea cautioned that the "direct replication of global frameworks" is unfeasible in India and suggested that policymakers should monitor market trends rather than implementing direct policy measures.

Telecom operators recommend that any broadband-related funding should be technology-neutral and focused on addressing actual connectivity voids rather than supporting specific Wi-Fi-centric initiatives.

Source: TRAI consultation: telcos argue cheap mobile data has reduced need for public Wi-Fi
Domain: medianama.com