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File No. CS-SCI-002 · Central Scheme · Ministry of Communications

BharatNet & PM-WANI

High-speed broadband to every village Gram Panchayat, plus affordable public Wi-Fi hotspots — with an easy path for small shopkeepers to become paid Wi-Fi providers in their own neighbourhood.

What this scheme offers

BharatNet is the world's largest rural broadband project, laying optical fibre to connect every one of India's roughly 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats — over 2.15 lakh were connected as of early 2026, with "BharatNet Phase III" (launched May 2026, ₹1.5 lakh crore outlay) targeting all remaining panchayats and 6.25 lakh villages by 2028. BharatNet itself is wholesale infrastructure — it doesn't sell connections directly to households, but lets any telecom operator or ISP use the network to offer retail broadband in newly connected areas. PM-WANI (PM Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) complements this by letting any small business — a tea stall, kirana store, or local shop — register as a Public Data Office and offer paid Wi-Fi access with minimal setup cost and no licence fee; over 4 lakh hotspots have been deployed as of early 2026. Together, these have helped cut the cost of mobile data by roughly 97% since 2014.

Two ways this reaches you

  • As a resident: Once BharatNet infrastructure reaches your Gram Panchayat, ask local ISPs or telecom operators about home broadband plans, or use nearby PM-WANI Wi-Fi hotspots for affordable public internet access.
  • As a small entrepreneur: Register as a PM-WANI Public Data Office (PDO) to offer paid Wi-Fi from your shop — a low-cost way to generate extra income while improving local connectivity.

How to become a PM-WANI Wi-Fi provider

  1. Choose a PDO Aggregator (one of 200+ registered aggregators) who handles the technical and billing setup on your behalf — no telecom licence is required for you as an individual PDO.
  2. Set up a Wi-Fi access point using standard, affordable equipment at your shop or establishment.
  3. Register with your chosen aggregator, who connects you to the PM-WANI network.
  4. Customers pay a small fee (set by you or your aggregator) to access the internet through your hotspot, typically via a QR code or app.
  5. For home or business broadband once BharatNet reaches your panchayat, simply contact any operating ISP or telecom provider serving your area.

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