Explained: How will India’s new public Wi-Fi project rollout? The Union Cabinat has cleared a proposal to set up public Wi-Fi access network interfaces. Why is a public Wi-Fi network needed in India? How have other countries gone about setting it up? Written by Pranav Mukul , Edited by Explained Desk | New Delhi | Updated: December 21, 2020 2:18:27 pm Free Wifi services in the Airport Express metro in New Delhi. (Express Photo: Abhinav Saha, File) The Union Cabinet recently cleared a proposal by the Department of Telecommunications to set up public Wi-Fi access network interfaces. This is essentially a nationwide network of public Wi-Fi hotspots, termed public data offices (PDOs) after the public call office (PCO) concept rolled out by the Indian government to set up a nationwide network of landline public pay-phones.