The Ministry of Communications (MoC) on May 26, 2026, notified regarding the User-Friendly Reforms under PM-WANI to Enhance Public Wi-Fi Access.
The Department of Telecommunications has introduced a set of user-centric reforms under the PM-WANI (Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) framework to enhance digital connectivity and ease of internet access across India. These reforms, notified through circulars dated May 22, 2026, aim to strengthen the country’s digital public infrastructure and improve user experience.
Key measures include the introduction of QR-based authentication for laptops and other secondary devices, enabling seamless and secure login through a smartphone. Additionally, flexible short-duration Wi-Fi plans of 15, 30, and 60 minutes have been proposed to cater to users needing temporary internet access, such as commuters and students. The standardisation of hotspot names (SSIDs) under PMWANI branding has also been implemented to help users easily identify authentic networks.
All stakeholders have been directed to implement these changes within eight weeks, targeting full rollout by July 2026. The reforms are aligned with the vision of Narendra Modi to provide affordable and accessible digital connectivity, and are being driven under the leadership of Jyotiraditya Scindia and Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani. Overall, the initiative seeks to improve accessibility, interoperability, and adoption of public Wi-Fi services nationwide.
[Release ID: 2265295]
