NTP2018 Inputs from BIF Presentation On Liberalisation of

NTP-2018 : Inputs from BIF Presentation On Liberalisation of Public Wifi Hotspot Infrastructure Meeting 4 ( 2 nd November )

ANCHOR PRINCIPLE-ONE Liberalisation of the Public Wifi Hostpot Model

Broadband in India • • • Broadband subscribers ( TRAI Report June’ 17 ): 300 Mn Broadband penetration : 300/1250 =< 25% Total Wireless Subscribers =282 Mn Total Wireline Subscribers=18 Mn However BB is defined at speeds in excess of 512 kbps If one was to filter out the number of subscribers who are at 2 Mbps , then the number of actual BB subscribers would be perhaps at around 100 Mn ( 1/3 rd ) To achieve Digital India, we need to rapidly make Broadband available everywhere

Benefits of Public Wifi 4 • Data offload for 4 G & 5 G networks • This enables users of high capacity data services to download high volumes of data at an affordable cost as compared to Mobile Broadband data • Network speeds in Wifi coverage areas improve as compared to Mobile Data 9/29/2020

Public Wifi Hotspot Scenario in India • • 5 Total Number of Wifi Hotspots as on Dec’ 2016 : ~31, 500 We represent a sixth of the World’s Population However our share of global hotspots is < 1 in 1000 Globally there will be 340 Mn hotspots by 2018 which will mean 1 hotspot for every 20 persons. For India to reach the current global average of 1 in 150, 8 Mn additional hotspots would be required 9/29/2020

What can be done for increasing Public Wifi hotspots 6 Unlicensed Spectrum • Existing Wifi band is already congested • Additional unlicensed spectrum bands need to be released • BIF has requested for release of additional 5 Ghz bands and V band Light Touch/Registration • Permission to provide Public Wifi services with a ‘ mere registration’ and without any license Bandwidth resale needs to be permitted • Seamless Roaming across networks • Simplification of KYC & authentication mechanisms 9/29/2020

BIF Aggregator Model 7 • Wi-Fi aggregator would do the following: • - homogenize a set of heterogeneous hotspot networks and help operate these hotspots for hotspot owners • - provide cloud services to enable business models and service operations as a service to the hotspot owner • - provide end user onboarding services including authentication, authorization & accounting to the hotspot owner • - offer traffic management services to the hotspot owners 9/29/2020

BIF Aggregator Model 8 • Aggregation model, wherein a neutral entity partners with various players like Wi-Fi providers, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), TSPs (Telecom Service Providers), payment providers, venues, others to enable Wi-Fi services. • In this model the aggregator drives service integration across the value chain - collaborating with ISPs, TSPs, payment providers and venues. There could be multiple aggregators driving competition. • The aggregator would use authentication mechanisms and payment solutions which are in compliance with the government regulations. 9/29/2020 BIF Agrees with TRAI Recommendations on Public Wifi

CONCLUSION/SUMMARY 9 • BIF is of the opinion that there is merit to recommend this category of Wi-Fi Aggregators to be permitted under simple ' online Registration', as this would give a big impetus to the penetration of broadband across the country. • Reselling of bandwidth provided over unlicensed spectrum is also an activity that needs to be permitted for such entities which can help in further proliferation of broadband penetration. 9/29/2020

Thank You 9/29/2020