TRAI to propose PCO-like model to popularise public WiFi service 

 According to an official, the services will be device-agnostic, allowing the consumer to use the WiFi data pack on multiple devices. 'PCO STD ISD' written on them? If the model likely to be suggested by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India for popularising public WiFi services is implemented, we could have 'DPO or data public office’ on the lines of those public call office or PCO as they were called. According to an official, the services will be device-agnostic, allowing the consumer to use the WiFi data pack on multiple devices. “Suppose a user buys WiFi pack at a DPO and uses only a certain percentage of the data. He or she can comfortably walk away and use the remaining data later as well at another spot of the service provider. Not only that, the person will be able to use the data on any other device as well using the user id and password,” the telecom regulator was expected to send its recommendations on public WiFi services to the Department of Telecommunication today or tomorrow. 

TRAI wants the regulation of these DPOs and public WiFi service providers with a ‘light touch’ and hence will only suggest their registration with the DoT without any need for licensing, the official said. “The registration will be possible online and we want new players to come in. We want more competition and lower prices for the consumer for using these services,” he said. Despite government efforts, public Wifi services haven’t really caught on due to various reasons. These include high cost of these services – particularly at places like airports and hotels. Consumers also find the payment process for these services a complicated process with lack of customisation in data packs often being a major reason for consumers being reluctant to use WiFi services. "Currently, a user uses free WiFi at a public place. Once the free time is over, he doesn't use it anymore for various reasons. 

One is that he is forced to buy a voucher that promises a quantity of data that is in excess of the user's immediate needs. The user then doesn’t use the services further because of high cost," the official said, adding the consumer would have multiple choices including wallets for payment of these services. An official with the regulator had earlier told the concept of ‘free’ had also hurt the spread of public WiFi services since the consumer assumed these services were always meant to be free and any payment for them was not called for. The recommendations by the regulator will deal with the above problems.

Read more for HNI Stock Tips- http://bit.ly/ace_services