What is PODA?
The full form of PODA is Public Data Office Aggregator and he must register with the Central Registry and validate signatures using its public certificate. It must also register the SSIDs, locations, and WiFi Access Points of the PDOs it is linked with. Several WANI-enabled WAPs run by various PDOs must be combined by a PDOA in order to grant users access to internet services after they have been verified by the App Provider.
The PDOA must integrate the Captive Portal with digital payment service providers, including UPI, eWallets, Credit and Debit Cards, Online Banking, etc., for payment transactions. A PDOA is required to publish the subscriber rate and maintain a record of each subscriber’s usage.
Although though PDOA will keep track of each subscriber’s usage statistics, internet traffic will go directly from PDO’s Wifi Access Point to the network of interconnecting authorised Service Providers. Any two PDOAs are allowed to collaborate on a roaming arrangement. By signing such a contract, the subscribers of each party will be able to access the Internet from any Wifi Access Points connected to them. As directed from time to time by the Department of Telecommunications, the PDOA is required to respond to user concerns.
Functions of the Public Data Officer Aggregator
Only WANI-compliant wifi access points may be installed, maintained, and used by Public Data Office Aggregator.
A PDOA is required to use networks of authorised Service Providers in that region exclusively to link its WiFi Access Point (WAP) with the Internet.
A PDOA is capable of setting up many WAPs and connecting them logically to various Captive Portals of PDO aggregators. But, any PDOA aggregator’s captive portal and a Wi-Fi access point need to be logically connected.
For internet access, PDOAs are required by the WANI framework to have a business contract with authorized Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) or Internet Service Providers (ISPs). For aggregation, authorization, accounting, and other associated tasks, PDOAs and PDOAs must also reach an understanding.
PODA Ways and Methods
Public Data Aggregators are not required to register with the DoT. In agreement with a PDOA, a PDO can set up a WiFi infrastructure that complies with WANI. A Public Data Office Aggregator may be any business registered under the Companies Act of 2013. A PDOA must adhere to the relevant FDI regulations for the telecommunications industry. There is no registration cost required to register a PDOA with the DoT.
An App Provider may be any business that has a Companies Act of 2013 registration. The App Provider is required to follow the relevant FDI regulations for the telecommunications industry. There is no registration cost required to register an app provider with the DoT. The applicant company may use the SARALSANCHAR (Simplified Application For Registration and Licenses) Portal to submit an application for registration with the DoT for PDOA or App Provider registration. During registration, the applying firm must supply the Corporate Identity Number (CIN).
The applying company must upload a self-certified document of Company Registration issued by the Registrar of Companies until the “SARALSANCHAR” portal is merged with the master database kept by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (RoC). During seven working days, DoT will give PDOAs and app providers registration. After seven working days, an automatic generation of the registration certificate will occur. Permission for pan-India activities must be granted by the PDOA and App Provider registration.
A PDOA may cancel the registration by providing the DoT with 60 days’ notice and the linked PDOs with 30 days’ notice. The terms of applicable and pertinent laws will govern the registration. The PDOA must regularly submit the requested paperwork to the DoT and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in order to make data available for WANI. If it is necessary or reasonable to do so in the interest of the State’s security, the DoT reserves the right to halt the WAP service at any moment.