It’s February 2024 and India has met an important milestone – over 1 million public WiFi hotspots now dot the landscape, providing free high-speed internet access to millions. From humble beginnings a decade ago, India’s public WiFi revolution has connected the unconnected.
Stepping off the plane at Mumbai Airport, travelers are greeted by fast, free WiFi. At the local chai stall in a Delhi slum, customers seamlessly use digital payments on their phones. Inside a remote village school in Rajasthan, students access the limitless knowledge of the internet. Urban and rural, rich and poor, online access is now taken for granted across India.
This transformation seemed unimaginable back in 2014, when India had less than 40,000 WiFi hotspots. But the government’s Digital India campaign brought connectivity to the forefront. With determined collaboration between policymakers, businesses and communities, WiFi was established as an essential service like water and electricity.
The journey has overcome many challenges – from costs of installing hotspots in remote areas to training users unfamiliar with technology. But efforts like Google Station and RailWire persisted, driven by the noble vision of an inclusive, connected India. Local entrepreneurs were inspired to set up affordable hotspots in their communities.
Now, as people enjoy the fruits of this hard-won success, a generation of Indians recognizes WiFi as a basic need and human right. Children in villages see the internet as a window for learning and advancement. Farmers turn to online resources to improve crop yields. Health workers leverage telemedicine to serve the sick. Across India, digital barriers have fallen away.
While obstacles remain, India has affirmed through its WiFi revolution that connectivity is the great equalizer. In that spirit, people are hopeful for the next milestones that await through this digital transformation. An inclusive and equitable digital India is now visible on the horizon.
