India cabinet greenlights public WiFi networks initiative ‘PM-WANI’

India’s Union Cabinet has approved the PM-WANI initiative which involves the nationwide installation of public Wi-Fi networks aimed at improving wireless connectivity. WiFi will be facilitated by public data offices (PDOs) with no license, registration or fees Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad indicated. The PDOs can provide internet access directly or lease from internet service providers. There will also be PDO aggregators who will address the authorisation and accounting of PDOs and app providers will allow users to register for using the public WiFi at particular places with the approval being received within seven days.