New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a consultation paper on the “Proliferation of Public Wi-Fi Networks in India,” inviting stakeholders to share their views on strengthening and expanding public Wi-Fi infrastructure across the country.
According to TRAI Secretary Atul Kumar Chaudhary, the consultation paper reviews the existing regulatory framework, identifies challenges affecting the growth of public Wi-Fi networks, and proposes measures to accelerate their expansion nationwide.
The paper outlines key focus areas, including an overview of public Wi-Fi ecosystems in other countries and key takeaways from international experiences and global best practices. It also assesses the current status of public Wi-Fi in India, examining deployment trends and demand patterns, while identifying major challenges hindering its proliferation.
Further, the consultation paper examines the roles of key stakeholders such as central and state governments, local bodies, telecom service providers (TSPs)/internet service providers (ISPs), and private entities in developing viable public Wi-Fi models across rural areas, urban centres, and high-footfall locations.
It also looks into issues related to authorisation, authentication, roaming, and billing systems within the Indian public Wi-Fi ecosystem. In addition, the paper analyses potential direct and indirect revenue models to ensure the long-term sustainability of public Wi-Fi services in the country.
The consultation paper has been made available on TRAI’s official website (www.trai.gov.in). Stakeholders can submit their written comments by May 25, 2026, and counter-comments, if any, by June 8, 2026. Submissions can be sent electronically to advbbpa@trai.gov.in, with a copy to jtadvbbpa-1@trai.gov.in.
