The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a consultation paper titled “Proliferation of Public Wi-Fi Networks in India”, signalling a renewed push to expand the country’s public internet infrastructure. The paper takes a close look at the current regulatory framework and highlights the issues that continue to limit the growth of public Wi-Fi networks. At the same time, it invites feedback from stakeholders on practical steps that could accelerate deployment and make access more widespread.
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As part of its assessment, TRAI has studied public Wi-Fi ecosystems in other countries, drawing on global best practices to identify what could work in the Indian context. The consultation also evaluates the current state of public Wi-Fi across the country, examining deployment trends, user demand, and the key bottlenecks slowing progress. A significant focus of the paper is on defining the roles of various stakeholders, from Central and state governments to local bodies, telecom service providers, internet service providers, and private players, in building sustainable public Wi-Fi models. This includes both urban centres and rural areas, as well as high-footfall public spaces.
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Operational aspects such as authorisation processes, user authentication, roaming capabilities, and billing systems have also been reviewed to understand how the ecosystem can function more efficiently. To address long-term sustainability, the regulator has explored a range of revenue models, including both direct and indirect approaches, that could support the viability of public Wi-Fi services. The consultation paper is available on TRAI’s official website, and stakeholders have been invited to submit their comments by May 25, 2026, followed by counter-comments by June 8, 2026.
