How To Become A PDOA

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Introduction to PM-WANI
Broadband is no more a buzzword of technical meetings and
forums; it has become a necessity of every individual aspiring to
connect with the fast-evolving information world. Governments
around the world have recognized the importance of its far-reaching
impact on social and economic development of people and public
broadband networks are being set up in every part of the globe now-
a-days.
As per the latest statistics, the internet broadband density in the
rural areas stands at 38 per 100 users. For the development of the
rural areas, it is essential that for improving literacy and economic
growth, this gap should be bridged.
In-line with this, Govt. of India had launched the PM-WANI
Scheme in December 9th, 2020 to take forward the goal of National
Digital Communications Policy, 2018 (NDCP) of creating a robust
digital communications infrastructure.
PM-WANI unbundles the ecosystem of Wi-Fi operations and
deployment and enables multiple players to be a part of the
ecosystem for offering affordable broadband. The end user can buy
coupons of smaller denominations ranging from Rs.2 to Rs.20 for
broadband access.
The PM-WANI framework envisages provision of Broadband
through Public Wi-Fi Hotspot providers and will consist of the
following elements:
Public Data Office (PDO)
PDO will establish, maintain, and operate Wi-Fi Access Points and
provide last-mile connectivity to deliver Broadband services to
subscribers. PDO need not pay any license fee or perform any
kind of registration.
The PDO needs to arrange access point, power sourcefor
powering up the access point and internet bandwidth from ISP/TSP’s
such as BSNL, MTNL, RJio, Vodafone or Bharat Broadband Nigam
Limited.
Any tea-shop or kirana shop owner who has a customer base and
has space for installation of access point can become a PDO.

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Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA)
PDOA provides user interface for the user to buy a plan and keep
track of the data consumption of the user. PDOA need not pay any
license fees. PDOA needs to perform a simple online registration
process at Saral Sanchar Portal (https://saralsanchar.gov.in/),
followed by signing up at Central Registry(https://pmwani.gov.in).
App Provider
App Provider, who will develop an application to register users
and ‘discover’ and display PM-WANI Wi-Fi hotspots in the proximity
for accessing the internet service and also authenticate the potential
Broadband users. Startups and wallet providers can become App
Providers.
App Provider need not pay any license fees. App Provider has
to perform a simple online registration process at Saral Sanchar
Portal (https://saralsanchar.gov.in/), followed by signing up at
Central Registry (https://pmwani.gov.in).
Central Registry
Central Registry will maintain the details of App Providers,
PDOAs, and PDOs. To begin with, the Central Registry will be
maintained by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-
DoT).Central Registry is responsible for the certification of PDOA and
App Provider software.

PDO-1
PM-WANI
Wi-Fi ISP-1 Central
Access
Gateway Registry
point
PDO-2
Wi-Fi ISP-2 PDO
PDOA
Internet Network
Access Gateway
point
PDO-3
App
App
Wi-Fi
ISP-n Provider
Access
Point
Gateway Network

Figure 1: PM-WANI Network Elements

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What does a PDOA do?
A PDOA is an aggregator of multiple access points (PDOs) who
are the Wi-Fi service providers in the last mile. This is similar to the
way services are offered by Ola who aggregates multiple taxis or Oyo
who aggregates multiple hotels. The PDOA will earn revenue from
PDOs by offering them the features of plans, accounting,
authorization and a captive portal to the PDO.
What are the steps for PDOA Onboarding?

Where do I get more details of the onboarding process?

1. Visit https://pmwani.gov.in.
2. On the main tab Downloads option is present.
3. User Manual is available for PDOA and App Provider.
4. Click on Download.
5. The User Manual gives the complete details of the onboarding
process.

Who can provide PM-WANI Compatible PDOA Software?

PDOA can procure any PM-WANI certified PDOA software stack
available in the market. C-DOT also provides PM-WANI compatible
PDOA software.
How is the PDOA certified by the PM-WANI CR?

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 Initially a PDOA gets a provisional certificate based on self-
declaration document. After Provisional certification service can be
started by the PDOA. However, PDOA is required to get itself
certified through a lab created for this purpose.
What security compliance needs to be followed by the PDOA?
Following security conditions are defined in the WANI framework
and the same need to be complied by PDOAs:
a) PDOA shall make necessary provisions for storage of user data
for one year to ensure compliance with legal provisions, as
required.
b) The user data privacy will be ensured by PDOAs. Complete user
data and usage logs will be stored within India.
c) Subject to terms and conditions of the Registration, PDOA will
take all necessary steps to safeguard the privacy and
confidentiality of any information about a third party to whom
they provide the service.
What is the Business Model for a PDOA?
PDOA’s main investment will be a creation of complete backend
system for hosting internet plans/coupons, authorization and
accounting (AA), payment collection, WANI token handling module
and storage for log to ensure Lawful Interception (LI) compliance.
The solution to achieve these functions can either be developed by
PDOA in an ownership model or sourced from market on subscription
basis under service model from any of the platform as a Service
(PaaS) provider. Similarly, the software solution can be hosted on
own server or hosted on cloud through cloud service
provideronsubscription/rental basis.
Under ownership model PDOA needs to arrange the following
infrastructure/resources to provide its services to PDOs getting
aggregated to its platform, under PM-WANI framework:
 Own server to host PDOA software
 Own PDOA software stack
 Internet Bandwidth so that solution can be accessed on the
internet
 Payment Gateway Account for customers to make online
payment
 Domain Name to access the solution on internet
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  SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) Certificate for secured
communication
 Manpower to run the operations
Typical costing of these elements is as follows in Table 1 below
Table 1: Typical costs (in Rs.) per annum in own infra
model
** Cost
Cost of Depreciation
of Total Cost
Item item/Ser /Amortizati
Capital per annum
vice on
(12%)

Server cost with OS and 100000 20000 12000 32000

storage (One time cost)
Life: 5 years

Bandwidth with 15000 NA NA 15000

redundancy (Recurring
cost as Service)

PDOA Software Stack 400000 40000 48000 88000

(onetime purchase
cost)Amortized over 10
years

# 6000 N/A 600 6600

Payment Gateway ,
Domain Name and SSL
Certificate (Recurring
cost)

Manpower Cost for 300000 N/A 36000 336000

operations (Recurring
cost)

Total Annual Cost for PDOA in Ownership Model 477600

Break-even cost per month for PDOA in Ownership Model 477600/12

= 39800

*Opportunity cost of entrepreneur’s skill and time is not included. Also, it is

assumed that infrastructure is utilized exclusively for PDOA operations. If the
infrastructure is also used for other purposes, break-even cost will reduce.
** Cost of capitalis rate of interest on the capital employed/invested in the
business by the entrepreneur.
# Payment gateway transaction charges are not included
Disclaimer: These costs are indicative and may vary based on market dynamics.
Entrepreneurs are requested to use this only as a guidance.

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 In case PDOA decides to opt for a service/subscription-based model
typical costs will be incurred as shown below in Table-2.

Table 2: Typical costs (in Rs.) per annum in

Subscription/Service based model

Item Subscription ** Cost of

Total Cost
Cost per Capital
Per Annum
annum (12%)

Cloud Cost inclusive of 100000 12000 112000

Hardware/OS/Bandwidth/storage
(as Service)

PDOA Software Stack (as 48000 5760 53760

Service) @Rs 4000/- per month
# 7000 840 7840
Payment Gateway , Domain
Name and SSL Certificate
(Recurring cost)

Operation Manpower Cost 240000 28800 268800

(Skilled) @Rs 20000/- per
month

Total Annual Cost for PDOA in case of Rental model 442400

Monthly Cost for PDOA in case of Rental model 442400/12

= 36866
*Opportunity cost of entrepreneur’s skill and time is not included. Also, it is assumed
that infrastructure is utilized exclusively for PDOA operations. If the infrastructure is
also used for other purposes, break-even cost will reduce.
** Cost of capitalis rate of interest on the capital employed/invested in the business
by the entrepreneur.
# Payment gateway transaction charges are not included
Disclaimer: These costs are indicative and may vary based on market dynamics.
Entrepreneurs are requested to use this only as a guidance.

What revenues are expected?

PDOA sells internet plans through its portal. Whenever a user tries to
access a WANI compliant public Wi-Fi hotspot (PDO access point),
he/she is directed to the concerned PDOA portal. The portal offers
various plans in terms of coupons and the user can select the value
of the coupon desired to be purchased. Therefore, user makes
payment to PDOA for accessing the access point of a PDO.After
purchasing a plan from PDOA a user can log into access point hosted
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by a PDO. As the money is collected by PDOA from users by selling
them a plan online, PDOA retains a share of this revenue based on
the agreement between a PDO and PDOA. PDOA pays back this
money back to PDOs based on the usage of internet by users from
the access point of a PDO. PDOA retains a share of revenue for
delivery of its services to PDOs. This share is mutually negotiated
between a PDO and PDOAas per the agreement. The revenue share
between PDOA and PDOs vary for each PDOA depending upon the
services and support provided by the PDOA to PDOs. The number of
PDO served by the PDOA is directly proportional to the PDOAs
revenue.Assuming a certain minimum revenue per PDO (Please
refer PDO booklet for reference), revenues for the PDOA is shown
in in Table 3 below. A typical share of 90: 10 between PDO and
PDOA is assumed to calculate the revenue of a PDOA.
Table 3: Revenue (Rs.) projections for a PDOA
No. of
Total revenue Share of PDOA per
PDOs
generated per month month (10%)
served
Nos of PDO in 100 4050*100=405000 405000*0.1=40500
first 3 months
Nos of PDOs in 500 4050*500=2025000 2025000*0.1=202500
first 6 months
Nos of PDOs in 5000 4050*5000=20250000 20250000*0.1=2025000
1 year

As can be seen the PDOA can break even and cover all its costs,
including 12% on funds deployed for PDOA business, if it serves
approx.100PDOs. More the number of PDOs served by a PDOA, more
will be its earning and profit.
Other Booklets of PM-WANI
 PDO Booklethttps://pmwani.gov.in/assets/landing-
page/booklets/Booklet_PDO_English.pdf
 APP Provider Booklethttps://pmwani.gov.in/assets/landing-
page/booklets/Booklet_APP_English.pdf

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 Annex I: List of DOT Field Officers
STATE/UT Authorized Design Email Id Telephone
person ation No.
Name
Andaman Sh. Rakesh DDG [email protected] 033-24402027
and Kumar (Tech.)
Nicobar Sharma
Islands
Andhra Sh. G V DDG [email protected] 0866-2496499
Pradesh Rama (Tech.)
Krishna
Arunanchal Sh. Rajesh DDG [email protected] 9422217211
Pradesh Kumar (Tech.)
Maheshwari
Assam Sh. G K DDG [email protected] 361-2736999
Sutar (Tech.)
Bihar Sh. A.K. DDG [email protected] 612-2506139
Sinha (Tech.)
Chattisgarh Sh. R.K. DDG [email protected] 755-2555854
Singh (Tech.)
Dadra and DDG [email protected] 9414001115
Nagar (Tech.)
Sh. Roshan
Haveli and
Lal Meena
Daman and
Diu
Delhi Sh. Y.K. DDG [email protected] 011-26484080
(Gurgaon, Singh (Tech.)
Ghaziabad,
Noida,
Faridabad)
Goa Sh. Vikram DDG [email protected] 9425001499
Malviya (Tech.)
Gujarat Sh. Roshan DDG [email protected] 9414001115
Lal Meena (Tech.)
Haryana Sh. O.P. DDG [email protected] 1722538060
Manhas (Tech.)
Himachal Sh. Brij DDG 0177-2625065
Pradesh Mohan Setia (Tech.) [email protected]
Jammu & Sh. Kailash DDG [email protected] 191-2470133
Kashmir Chandra (Tech.)
Panday
Jharkhand Sh. A.K. DDG [email protected] 612-2506139
Sinha (Tech.)
Karnataka Smt. Sunita DDG [email protected] 080-26642626
Cherodath (Tech.)
Kerala Smt. DDG [email protected]
484-2207255
Sobhana V (Tech.)
Lakshadwe Smt. DDG [email protected]
484-2207255
ep Sobhana V (Tech.)
Ladakh Sh. Kailash DDG [email protected] 191-2470133
Chandra (Tech.)
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 Panday

Madhya Sh. R.K. DDG [email protected] 755-2555854

Pradesh Singh (Tech.)
Maharashtr Sh. Vikram DDG [email protected] 9425001499
a Malviya (Tech.)
Mumbai Sh. Ajay DDG [email protected] 022-28573530
Kamal (Tech.)
Manipur Sh. Rajesh DDG [email protected] 9422217211
Kumar (Tech.)
Maheshwari
Meghalaya Sh. Rajesh DDG [email protected] 9422217211
Kumar (Tech.)
Maheshwari
Mizoram Sh. Rajesh DDG [email protected] 9422217211
Kumar (Tech.)
Maheshwari
Nagaland Sh. Rajesh DDG [email protected] 9422217211
Kumar (Tech.)
Maheshwari
Odisha Sh. U.V. DDG [email protected] 9972279970
Ramana (Tech.)
Puducherry Sh. Shri S. DDG [email protected] 044-28251118
Sudhakar (Tech.)
Punjab Smt. Rekha DDG [email protected]
172-2218094
Singh (Tech.)
Rajasthan Sh. Ram DDG [email protected] 0141-2712620
Gopal Yadav (Tech.)
Sikkim Sh. Rakesh DDG [email protected] 033-24402027
Kumar (Tech.)
Sharma
Tamil Nadu Sh. Shri S. DDG [email protected] 044-28251118
Sudhakar (Tech.)

Telangana Sh. K. Raja DDG [email protected] 040-27722713

Sekhar (Tech.)

Tripura Sh. Rajesh DDG [email protected] 9422217211

Kumar (Tech.)
Maheshwari
Uttrakhand Sh. DDG ddgc.ddnupw-dgt- 135-2735577
Arunkumar (Tech.) [email protected]
Verma
Uttar Sh. Anil DDG [email protected] 0522-2725501
Pradesh Kumar (Tech.)
(East) Ranjan
Uttar Sh. Anupam DDG [email protected] 9868130902
Pradesh Varshney (Tech.)
(West)
West Sh. Rakesh DDG [email protected] 033-24402027
Bengal Kumar (Tech.)
Sharma
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