Soon, use WiFi at Rs 20 per GB: Know more about Trai's proposals

Today, a large part of India's population uses smartphones, mostly Android ones. The use of internet on these mobile devices, however, is often very limited, thanks to exorbitant data charges. A booster shot to WiFi deployment could be the answer to affordable internet costs. With regard to the highly ambitious public WiFi network, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is finalising plans to set free WiFi deployment across the country by permitting individuals, communities and small-time entrepreneurs to offer feasible and high-speed internet to the public and improve India’s poor broadband connectivity levels.

"We see mass-scale Wi-Fi deployment as a means to democratise the penetration of affordable high-speed internet across urban cities and rural areas," top officials at Trai told The Times Of India.

Trai plans to provide internet for 2 paise per MB against the existing rates of around 10 paise in the mobile telecom market.

For several years now, telecom operators have been at war with each other over pricing issue. With Jio's entry, this battle has further escalated. The regulator feels that the Wi-Fi network can help take the load off from choked telecom operators, who are battling poor call quality and slow broadband speeds.

Trai is also developing a proof– of-concept to enable people to seamlessly latch on to any wi-fi hotspot they come across, without a one-time password or credit card payment hassles.

"The idea is to ensure that a consumer can easily move from his mobile network to low-cost public Wi-Fi hotspots without having to go through multiple authentication issues. New intermediaries to provide Wi-Fi will help have higher touch-points for internet that can run into millions," a source said.

The recommendations will be sent to the telecom ministry very soon for necessary changes in the licensing and other rules.

Trai's move to widen berth in consumers' pocket

Trai plans to provide internet for 2 paise per MB. That will cost somewhere around Rs 20 per GB of data. To put things in retrospect, that would put the cost of availing public at well below the nationwide average of 20 paise — and even below Reliance Jio’s price of 5 paise per MB.

Data is the new currency

Data is the new currency for this tech savvy generation. However, WiFi deployment is yet to spread in a large way in India. According to Trai, Wi-Fi technology and hotspots are yet to pick up in India when compared to other countries.

"Globally, the number of Wi-Fi hotspots has increased 568% from 2013 to 2016 compared to 12% (growth) in India," the regulator said.

"For India to reach a goal of one hotspot for every 150 people (current global average), 8 lakh additional hotspots will have to be installed," Trai said.

WiFi hotspots an ideal option?

According to Trai costs of setting up Wi-Fi infrastructure is lower when compared to mobile broadband networks like 2G, 3G and 4G as the technology utilizes unlicensed spectrum and equipment is cheaper and more readily available. Also, its maintenance and operational costs are significantly lower.


India absent from the list for best countries with WiFi

Despite the number of internet consumers, India ranks nowhere on the list for best countries with public WiFi. In terms of data connectivity, India fares even worse than countries such as Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Vietnam on fixed line broadband infrastructure.

According to a survey conducted by Rotten WiFi, Lithuania emerged as the country providing the best public WiFi services, beating out wealthier nations such as Singapore and the United Kingdom in 2015. The survey was based on the speed and quality of public hotspots, tested in 184 countries.

India lags behind despite enormous user base

India ranked 36th among 75 nations in Internet inclusiveness based on factors like availability, affordability and policies for access, a Facebook-Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) report said last week. In terms of availability, India ranked 46th, while it jumped a few spots to 26th position in terms of affordability. 

"Internet access drives economic opportunity and enables the free exchange of data and information...A truly inclusive Internet must be widely available, affordable and allow usage that promotes positive social and economic outcomes," Facebook said in a blogpost. 

Among Asian countries, India ranked 12th out of 22 countries.