Govt approves hotspots across cities and towns but there are concerns about security and data thefts

Accessing Wi-Fi anywhere in the country is expected to be an easy click with the Government giving permission to set up lakhs of public hotspots across the country. The plan includes remote areas and high-density areas in cities. Not only that, information consumption is expected to be easily snackable as connecting to a hotspot has been envisaged to be as easy as opening an app on your smartphone. The network is fairly open as anyone — be it a private individual in a residential area (with a commercial broadband connection), the neighbourhood shop or the vendor — can provide the facility. The Public Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (WANI) has been conceived to be as revolutionary as the PCO movement of the 1990s that enabled millions of Indians to make phone calls easily and at virtually no cost. The idea of setting up public Wi-Fi hotspots was recommended by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) a few years ago to boost digital connectivity and encourage self-employment. Of course, data management is a humongous task and the Government has set up a tiered system, with Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs) at the top, who will then enlist the Public Data Offices or PDOs (operators). No licence fee will be required for providing broadband internet through public networks.

However, with so much data floating around and being easily accessible, there are undoubtedly questions about security risks, particularly in a country like India, which has millions of internet users. The multi-layered architecture that has been conceived by the Government is intended to filter such cyber threats and misuse of personal information but it is still leaky. Besides telecom companies see no business sense in public Wi-Fi, given the low data rates and security concerns. As it is, social media platforms have been wildly manipulated in this country by vested interests, and increased access to the internet does come with its attendant risks of data-mining and identity thefts. Of course, pandemic-appropriate behaviour now demands that there be increased digitisation and the Government has jumped at the opportunity to consolidate this space. India will soon have 700 million broadband users, which will only swell in years to come. Done with good intentions but is it practical to implement, considering connectivity continues to be denied to Kashmir on grounds of security threats?