Govt Plans Revamped Public Wi-Fi with Single OTP Access to 4 Lakh Hotspots

Learning from the failures of previous public Wi-Fi initiatives (like PM-WANI), the government is planning to introduce a new and improved public Wi-Fi system. The goal of this system is to enhance the user experience and make digital payments more secure. Once implemented, users will not need a separate OTP for every single hotspot. Instead, a single OTP or password will allow access to 4 lakh hotspots across the country.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a consultation paper seeking public feedback on this matter.
To secure public Wi-Fi, standards like Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA3) will be implemented. This will provide extra security for UPI and digital payments even in crowded areas. The current system failed because it couldn’t meet user needs or generate revenue for operators. The new model aims to be revenue-friendly for operators through Advertisement-based models. Paid plans , Government subsidies (Viability Gap Funding). Urban vs. Rural: The plan includes high-speed internet in cities and low-cost “community Wi-Fi” models for villages.
Currently, only 2% of India’s 1.4 billion population uses public Wi-Fi. In contrast, usage is 80% in South Korea, 70% in the US, 60% in China, and 50% in England.
This framework will not only increase internet usage but also reduce the increasing data pressure on mobile networks (offloading). Former BSNL Chairman Aruna Srivastava notes that this will strengthen digital infrastructure by providing affordable internet to those who cannot buy expensive data plans. It will also facilitate high-data services like video streaming, cloud services, AI, and e-governance.