Our Reporter
Dimapur, July 27 (EMN): Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI), a high speed public Wi-Fi network initiated by the Ministry of Communication, was officially launched in Nagaland and Manipur on Wednesday, at Pro Rural’s head office in Dimapur.
Pro Rural has signed an MoU with the Pentacles Systems Pvt. Ltd. (PSPL), a DOT licensed C-DOT powered Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA), to promote access to internet data particularly helpful for entrepreneurs and business as well as the public of the North Eastern Region.
Briefing media persons after the launch programme, Mahashish Bhattacharjee and Dipyaman Chakraborty, directors of PSPL, shared that any village-level entrepreneur and businessman could become public data officer (PDO) and start selling internet broadband over Wi-Fi.
The directors informed that in order to facilitate ease of doing business and encourage local shops and small establishments to become Wi-Fi providers, it has been approved that the last mile public Wi-Fi providers require no license, no registration, and no permission and need not pay any fees to DOT.
They also informed that users who want to access Broadband through PMWAMI Public Wi-Fi will need to download the Apnawifi App from Google play store, have it authenticated and thereafter access broadband at any public Wi-Fi Hotspot.
“Thereafter, when the user reaches a public Wi-Fi Hotspot, the Apnawifi App on the mobile phone will show various available WANI networks, then the user can choose the public Wi-Fi network of choice and pay an amount-either online or through voucher-and use the network till the balance is exhausted,” the directors informed.
Further, they informed that prospective PDOs have to do one time minimum investment for purchasing the outdoor or indoor Wireless Access Point device and installation cost of broadband internet as a backhaul connection. And as a recurring expense, PDOS need to bear the cost of minimum 100 mbps broadband internet monthly charges which costs around INR 800 to INR 1000.
Wireless Access Point devices are available in 100 meter at the cost of 11,750 for and INR 17,750 for 200 meter device, the informed.
Paul Lokho, CEO of Pro Rural, said that their objective was to help students, business start-ups and others who need a lot of data for their businesses.
