Public Data Office

PDO i.e. Public Data Office is an office where anyone can set up a Wi-Fi infrastructure to provide data access to the public.

Key Points

• It was first established by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) of the Telecom Ministry.
• It has been developed on similar lines of the Public Call Office (PCO).
• This initiative was made to enhance the digital outreach in villages, by engaging village entrepreneurs to set up PDOs.

Government launches PM-WANI

• Recently, the Union Cabinet has cleared a proposal for a scheme named PM WANI i.e. PM Wi-Fi Access Network Interface.
• The proposal for PM WANI was placed by the Department of Telecommunications.
• The project aims to provide internet access to the public, through PDOs.
• The project will be implemented through different players- PDOs, Aggregators (PDOAs), App providers, and Central Registry.
• PDO will also have an aggregator (PDOA) who will be responsible for performing functions related to authorization and accounting.
• App providers will develop an app for registering users and discovering WANI Wi-Fi hotspots.
• A central registry will maintain the details of PDOs, app providers, and aggregators.
• The Centre for Development of Telematics will be responsible for maintaining this central registry.
• Under the proposed scheme, approximately 1 crore PDOs would be established across the country, and these PDOs will not be required to pay any fee or obtain a license from the Government.
• However, PDOAs and app providers will have to register on the DoT registration portal without paying any registration fee. The registration will be provided within 7 days of the application.

Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT)

C-DOT is a telecommunications technology development centre under the Government of India. C-DOT was established in the year 1984. It works towards designing, developing, and production of telecommunication technologies.