A post claiming that the Government of India is offering free Wi-Fi service and installation to everyone under the PM-WANI scheme is going viral on social media platforms (here, here). Through this article, let us fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Government of India is offering free Wi-Fi to everyone under the PM-WANI scheme.
Fact: PM-WANI is an initiative launched by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in 2020 with the aim of expanding the availability of public Wi-Fi hotspots across India. The objectives of PM-WANI include providing high-speed, affordable internet connectivity, particularly in rural and underserved areas, and encouraging small and micro-entrepreneurs — such as local shopkeepers — to become Wi-Fi service providers, thereby increasing their income and generating employment. The PDOs (Public Data Offices), who are the local shopkeepers or entrepreneurs setting up the hotspots, are responsible for their own setup and operating costs. The PM-WANI scheme does not offer free Wi-Fi to all users, nor does it provide free installation of Wi-Fi equipment to service providers. Its primary goal is to ensure affordable internet access, not free access. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
What is the PM-WANI scheme?
PM-WANI is an initiative launched by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in 2020 to expand the availability of public Wi-Fi hotspots across India. The scheme aims to provide high-speed, affordable internet connectivity, particularly in rural and underserved areas. By improving access to public hotspots, the government seeks to create employment opportunities for small and micro-entrepreneurs and provide low-cost internet to the underserved urban poor and rural households. The scheme also encourages local shops and establishments to offer Wi-Fi for last-mile internet delivery without requiring a licence or the payment of a registration fee (here, here).
How can you access PM-WANI internet?
To access public hotspots under the PM-WANI scheme, users must download the PM-WANI application on their mobile phones. They can then select a hotspot from the list of available connections and make a digital payment to use the internet. Users may continue to access the network until their purchased balance is exhausted (here, here).
PM-WANI ecosystem
The PM-WANI ecosystem consists of four components:
- Public Data Office (PDO)
- Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA)
- App Provider
- Central Registry
PDOs establish Wi-Fi hotspots and provide internet access to users. PDOAs offer authorisation and accounting services to PDOs. App Providers develop and manage mobile applications that display available Wi-Fi hotspots in the user’s vicinity. The Central Registry, maintained by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT), contains the records of all registered PDOs, PDOAs, and App Providers.
According to the PM-WANI Central Registry, as of 26 November 2025, there are 206 PDO aggregators, 112 App Providers, and 391,599 public Wi-Fi hotspots.
Key Features
- No licence or registration fee is required for Public Data Offices (PDOs), encouraging participation by small vendors and entrepreneurs.
- Utilises existing local infrastructure — such as shops, kirana stores and tea stalls — to provide last-mile internet connectivity.
Key Benefits
- Enhances digital inclusion and helps narrow the urban–rural digital divide.
- Facilitates affordable internet access and supports the Digital India mission.
- Promotes employment generation in the informal sector through entrepreneurship.
- Improved internet access contributes to economic growth by enabling digital services in education, healthcare, governance and commerce.
PM-WANI Wi-Fi Data Plans
A variety of PM-WANI Wi-Fi plans and data coupons are available to users, with the option to choose customised packages based on individual requirements. Users can select their preferred internet plan or coupon through the captive portal or from their usage history. Under the PM-WANI system, Wi-Fi plans generally start from ₹6 and go up to ₹99, depending on the data limit and validity period. For more details about the PM-WANI scheme, see here, here, here, and here.
To sum it up, PM-WANI, launched by the Department of Telecommunications in 2020, aims to rapidly expand public Wi-Fi access across India. The government does not provide or install free Wi-Fi under this scheme—it only enables an open framework for private entities to set up and operate Wi-Fi hotspots.
