What is PM-WANI and who launched it?

PM-WANI (Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) is a public Wi-Fi framework launched by the Department of Telecommunications on 9 January 2020 (Guidelines) and operationalised on 16 December 2020 (PM-WANI central portal launched). The framework aims to provide low-cost public Wi-Fi across India via PDOs (Public Data Offices) and PDOAs (aggregators).

Is PM-WANI registration free?

Yes — WANI-ISP Registration for PDOA is currently free of cost under the PM-WANI Guidelines 2020. The regular ISP licence fee (₹1 crore for ISP Category A) does not apply. PDOA is, however, subject to 8% AGR calculation on PM-WANI revenue.

Can a small shopkeeper become a PDO?

Yes — any Indian citizen / small business (kirana store, tea shop, restaurant) can become a PDO by being onboarded by a registered PDOA. No separate government licence required for PDO — the PDOA provides the underlying authorisation.

Is the same PDOA registration valid across India?

Yes — PDOA registration is pan-India. PDOA can onboard PDOs in any State without separate State-level registration.

Does a PDOA require an ISP licence?

No — PDOA does not require a separate ISP licence. The WANI-ISP Registration under PM-WANI Framework is sufficient. The PDOA must, however, have an authorisation arrangement with a Central Provider (TSP) for the underlying internet bandwidth.

What is the minimum net worth requirement for PDOA?

₹50 lakh — based on the PM-WANI Guidelines 2020. The net worth certificate is to be issued by a CA. **PROFESSIONAL VERIFICATION REQUIRED** for any amendment to this threshold.

Is foreign equity permitted in PDOA?

Yes — up to 100% under the automatic route (FDI Policy). Foreign equity compliance is via Form FC-GPR under FEMA / NDI Rules 2019.

What is the role of CERT-In Directions 28 April 2022 in PM-WANI?

Every PDOA is a "service provider" under CERT-In Directions — must report cyber security incidents within 6 hours; maintain logs for 5 years; appoint a point of contact (POC) for cyber security. Non-compliance attracts penalty under Section 70B(7) of IT Act 2000 — imprisonment up to 1 year, fine up to ₹1 lakh, or both.

Editor's pickStartup

Pm Wani Registration

Pm-Wani Registration requires precise documentation and timely submission. I-Pro Solutions manages the complete workflow including public WiFi registration and.

Statutory basis: **PM-WANI Framework — Public Wi-Fi Access Network Interface** — Guidelines for providing Public Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications — Notification dated **9 January 2020** (G.S.R. 36(E)) read with **Revised Operating Procedure (SOP) dated 13 July 2022**. Statutory basis: **Section 4 of Indian Telegraph Act, 1885** (exclusive privilege of Central Government over telegraph).

Turnaround

7–14 Working Days

₹

Starts from

₹3,499

Money-back accuracy

Guaranteed

Total starting from

₹3,499

Professional fee (no government fee)

Professional fee₹3,499 starts with

Government fee (est.)No fee

Turnaround7–14 Working Days

Money-back accuracy. CA/CS specialist. Tracked client portal.

CONFIRMEDverified 25 Aug 2026

Dedicated specialist

CA-led, named point of contact

Tracked client portal

Real-time status, end-to-end

Money-back accuracy

Refile-free if our error

Flat-fee pricing

No hidden charges, ever

About this service

Pm Wani Registration is a key regulatory filing administered by **Department of Telecommunications (DoT)**, Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Operational regulatory body: **Telecommunications Engineering Centre (TEC)**, DoT, New Delhi — for interoperability, standards, and certification. The **Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT)** is the technology partner. Field enforcement: **Telecom Enforcement, Resource and Monitoring (TERM)** Cells of DoT in each State.. Filing is executed via No traditional paper form. The PM-WANI architecture has **four entity types**, each with a separate online registration form on https://pmwani.gov.in: under **PM-WANI Framework — Public Wi-Fi Access Network Interface** — Guidelines for providing Public Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications — Notification dated **9 January 2020** (G.S.R. 36(E)) read with **Revised Operating Procedure (SOP) dated 13 July 2022**. Statutory basis: **Section 4 of Indian Telegraph Act, 1885** (exclusive privilege of Central Government over telegraph); **Section 7 of Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933** (licensing of wireless telegraphy apparatus); **Section 4 of Indian Telegraph Act, 1885** read with **Telegraph Act (Licensing) Rules**. The PM-WANI framework operates under the existing **Unified License / ISP License** regime of DoT — the Public Data Office (PDO) does NOT require a separate license; the PDOA (Public Data Office Aggregator) requires a WANI-ISP registration.. Our specialist-led team ensures full compliance with statutory documentation, eligibility verification, and expedited government approval.

Eligibility & thresholds

Minimum

Valid identity & address proof of applicant
Active PAN & registered business premises
Authorized representative authorization

Maximum

Compliant under applicable regulatory laws
No pending statutory disqualifications
Valid across authorized operational jurisdictions

Statutory floor

Pre-filing statutory documentation verification
Official statutory fee schedule as per authority
Mandatory periodic compliance filings post-approval

What's included

Everything in one transparent fee — no add-ons, no surprises.

Investor-Centric AOA Drafting

If you plan to raise institutional funding, standard Articles of Association (AOA) will not suffice. Venture capitalists demand specific clauses regarding right of first refusal (ROFR), tag-along/drag-along rights, and anti-dilution provisions. Our elite corporate lawyers draft sophisticated AOAs that anticipate future funding rounds, preventing costly and time-consuming structural overhauls when you secure term sheets.

Complex Multi-Founder Structuring

Co-founder disputes are the leading cause of early-stage startup failure. We don't just register your company; we advise on optimal equity splits, director roles, and authorized capital distribution. We provide templates for Co-Founder Agreements and vesting schedules, ensuring that the foundational relationship between partners is legally documented and aligned for long-term stability.

Rapid SPICe+ Processing Engine

Time is of the essence for startups. We utilize an advanced compliance engine that preemptively validates all data entered into the SPICe+ (INC-32) form. By cross-referencing PAN databases, checking DIN eligibility, and formatting registered office proofs perfectly, we eliminate typographical errors that typically cause frustrating ROC resubmission delays, ensuring first-pass approval.

Strategic Authorized Capital Advisory

Determining your initial Authorized Share Capital is a delicate balance. Set it too low, and you'll immediately face high fees to increase it during your first seed round. Set it too high, and you pay unnecessary upfront government stamp duty. We analyze your 12-to-18-month funding roadmap to recommend the exact optimal capital structure that minimizes immediate costs while accommodating your immediate growth.

ESOP Implementation Framework

Attracting top-tier talent in the startup ecosystem often requires offering Employee Stock Ownership Plans. A Private Limited Company is the only structure that efficiently supports this. As part of our premium advisory, we structure your initial cap table to accommodate a future ESOP pool seamlessly, ensuring you are ready to incentivize your founding team.

Comprehensive Post-Incorporation Toolkit

Receiving the Certificate of Incorporation is just the starting line. Within the first 30 to 180 days, you must open a bank account, appoint a statutory auditor (ADT-1), and file the Commencement of Business (INC-20A). We provide a complete post-incorporation execution service, handling these mandatory compliance milestones so you can focus entirely on product development and sales.

Government Fee Breakdown

Government charges only — separate from I-Pro's professional fee. All figures verified as of 25 August 2026.

Fee Component	Amount (₹)	Basis / Authority
Pm Wani Registration Statutory Filing	₹0 (No government fee)	Government fee is Nil / exempted under applicable statutory rulesOfficial Regulator
Total Government Fee	No fee	(for default assumptions stated below)

Government charges only — separate from I-Pro's professional fee. Verified 25 August 2026.

Required documents

Each list identifies exactly what to provide — and what you do not need to submit. Use the accordions to expand.

How it works

Each step is labelled with who performs it — Customer, I-Pro, or the Regulator. Form names are linked to the official portal.

1
Customer⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 1: **Customer / I-Pro**
**Customer / I-Pro**: Determine the entity type (PDO / PDOA / App Provider / Central Provider).
2
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 2: **I-Pro**
**I-Pro**: For PDO — engage a registered PDOA and complete onboarding (PDO does not register directly with DoT).
3
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 3: **I-Pro**
**I-Pro**: For PDOA — verify eligibility (Indian company, paid-up capital, net worth).
4
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 4: **I-Pro**
**I-Pro**: Compile Certificate of Incorporation + MOA / AOA + audited financials + net worth certificate + director KYC.
5
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 5: **I-Pro**
**I-Pro**: Apply online on https://pmwani.gov.in → "PDOA Registration" → upload documents.
6
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 6: **System**
**System**: Pay registration fee (Nil per DoT — WANI-ISP Registration is currently free of cost).
7
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 7: **DoT**
**DoT**: Scrutiny — typically within 30-45 days; DoT may seek clarification; technical evaluation by TEC.
8
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 8: **DoT**
**DoT**: Grant of WANI-ISP Registration — PDOA can now onboard PDOs.
9
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 9: **PDOA**
**PDOA**: Onboard PDOs via the PM-WANI portal — PDO provides PAN / Aadhaar / KYC; PDOA verifies; system generates PDO ID.
10
Regulator⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 10: **App Provider**
**App Provider**: For App Provider — separate registration on https://pmwani.gov.in with technical specification compliance.

Post-registration compliance

What to file next. I-Pro handles these as part of the annual compliance package.

Filing	Form	Deadline
Commencement of Business (Form INC-20A) Penalty: ₹50,000 for company + ₹1,000/day for directors (max ₹1 Lakh)	`One-time mandatory`	Within 180 days of incorporation after bank capital deposit
First Auditor Appointment (Form ADT-1) Penalty: Statutory non-compliance; prosecution of defaulting officers	`5-year tenure`	Within 30 days of incorporation by Board of Directors
Annual Financial Statements (Form AOC-4) Penalty: ₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling	`Annual`	Within 30 days of AGM (by 29 October annually)
Annual Return (Form MGT-7) Penalty: ₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling	`Annual`	Within 60 days of AGM (by 29 November annually)
Director KYC Verification (DIR-3 KYC) Penalty: ₹5,000 statutory fee per DIN + deactivation	`Annual`	Every designated partner / director holding active DIN by 30 September

Penalties for non-compliance

Statutory penalties under governing regulatory provisions. Avoid non-compliance delays.

Non-compliance	Provision	Penalty
Commencement of Business (Form INC-20A)	One-time mandatory	₹50,000 for company + ₹1,000/day for directors (max ₹1 Lakh)
First Auditor Appointment (Form ADT-1)	5-year tenure	Statutory non-compliance; prosecution of defaulting officers
Annual Financial Statements (Form AOC-4)	Annual	₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling
Annual Return (Form MGT-7)	Annual	₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling
Director KYC Verification (DIR-3 KYC)	Annual	₹5,000 statutory fee per DIN + deactivation

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoidable filing errors that cause delays or rejection. Each can be resolved before submission.

1
Mismatched applicant legal name or identity details across KYC proofs
Why: Government verification APIs cross-check with UIDAI and MCA databases and automatically flag discrepancies in spelling or dates.
Fix: Our specialists pre-validate your documents against official government databases before portal filing.
2
Submitting outdated utility bills or non-notarized commercial leases
Why: Premises proofs older than 60 days or defective landlord NOCs trigger statutory scrutiny queries and multi-week processing delays.
Fix: We verify recent billing dates and provide pre-formatted, legally vetted landlord NOC and lease formats.
3
Selecting incorrect classification, turnover slab, or statutory activity code
Why: Applications filed under inappropriate classifications attract show-cause notices and potential rejection without statutory fee refund.
Fix: We conduct a statutory scope assessment to align your application with the exact regulatory requirements.

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