PM-WANI Online Registration: Complete Detailed Guide 2026

Understanding PM-WANI: The Basics

PM-WANI stands for Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface. It’s India’s government initiative to provide affordable and high-quality Wi-Fi services across the country—in cities, towns, and villages. Think of it as making fast internet accessible to everyone through public Wi-Fi networks.

The government created a special online platform called SARAL SANCHAR (which means “Simplified Application For Registration and Licenses”) to manage this digitally. This portal is run by India’s Department of Telecommunications and is designed to issue various licenses and registration certificates without any paperwork.

Why Is PM-WANI Important?

The main goals are:

• Digitization: Everything is online, no physical documents needed

• Transparency: You can track your application status anytime

• Efficiency: Faster processing without bureaucratic delays

• Security: Multiple verification layers (CAPTCHA, OTP) for safety

• Accessibility: Available 24/7 from anywhere

Key Terms You Should Know

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Important: Who Can Apply for PM-WANI?

✅ CAN APPLY:

• Registered Companies – This is the ONLY option for PM-WANI certificate

• Your company must have an official CIN (Company Identification Number)

• Must be legally registered with the government

❌ CANNOT APPLY DIRECTLY:

• Individual persons

• Proprietorships (single owner business)

• Partnership firms

• Other non-company entities

If you’re an individual: You need to first register your business as a proper company, then apply for PM-WANI.

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The Complete 9-Step Registration Process

STEP 1: Register on SARAL SANCHAR Portal

This is your entry point into the system.

What You Need to Do:

1. Go to the SARAL SANCHAR website – This is the government’s official portal

2. Click “Registration” button – Located at the top of the page

3. Select your registration type – Choose “Company” (important: individuals can’t apply for PM-WANI)

Information You Must Fill:

Company Details:

• Company name (exactly as registered officially)

• CIN number (21-digit unique company identifier)

• Complete corporate office address including:

  • Street address

  • City/Town

  • State

  • District

  • Pincode

  • Phone number (landline)

  • Fax number (if available)

Authorized Contact Person Details:
This is the person who will be responsible for managing your PM-WANI application and certificate. Usually, this could be your CEO, Director, or authorized representative.

• Full name

• Job title/Designation (e.g., CEO, Director, Manager)

• Complete address (same format as company address)

• Email address (IMPORTANT: This will receive your login credentials)

• Mobile number (IMPORTANT: You’ll need this for OTP)

Security Step: CAPTCHA Verification

After filling all details, you’ll see a CAPTCHA code – those funny distorted letters and numbers. This proves you’re a real person and not a computer bot. Enter them exactly as shown and click “Verify” button.

Why CAPTCHA? It prevents automated abuse and spam registrations.

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STEP 2: OTP Verification – Double Authentication

After CAPTCHA verification, the system will send two separate codes for extra security.

How This Works:

Email OTP:

1. Check your email inbox (the one you provided)

2. Look for an email from SARAL SANCHAR

3. Find the OTP code in the email

4. Copy the code

5. Paste it into the “Email OTP” field on the portal

6. Click “Validate” button next to it

7. Wait for confirmation message

Mobile OTP:

1. Check your mobile phone for an SMS (text message)

2. The SMS will contain an OTP code

3. Copy that code

4. Paste it into the “Mobile OTP” field

5. Click “Validate” button

6. Wait for confirmation

Why Two OTPs?

• Email OTP proves you own the email address

• Mobile OTP proves you own the phone number

• Both together create a secure authentication system

• This prevents unauthorized access to your account

If You Make Mistakes:

• Click the “RESET” button to clear everything

• Start filling the form again

• You have multiple attempts

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STEP 3: Final Registration Submission

After both OTPs are successfully verified, you’re almost done with registration.

Final Steps:

1. Re-enter CAPTCHA – Yes, one more security check with those numbers/letters

2. Click “SUBMIT” button – This confirms your registration

3. Receive success message – The portal will show “Registration Done Successfully”

What Happens Next:

The system automatically sends your login credentials to your email address:

• User ID – Your unique identifier to login

• Temporary Password – You’ll change this on first login

• Registration confirmation – For your records

Important: Save this email safely. You’ll need these credentials very soon.

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STEP 4: Your First Login to the System

Now that you’re registered, it’s time to login.

How to Login:

1. Go to SARAL SANCHAR website again

2. Click “Login” button – At the top of the page

3. Enter your User ID – That unique number from your registration email

4. Enter your Password – The temporary password from email

5. Enter CAPTCHA code – Those security numbers again

6. Click “LOGIN” button

What Happens Immediately:

The system recognizes you’re logging in for the first time and redirects you to a password change page. You MUST do this before proceeding further.

Why change password immediately?

• The temporary password is basic security

• Your new password needs to be unique and strong

• Only you should know your new password

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STEP 5: Create Your Strong New Password

This is a critical security step. Your password must meet specific requirements.

Password Rules – ALL MUST BE MET:

Examples of GOOD Passwords:

• ✅ MyCompany@2024

• ✅ BSNL#Registration123

• ✅ SafePass$99India

• ✅ NewCert!Pass2026

Examples of BAD Passwords:

• ❌ 12345678 (only numbers)

• ❌ abcdefgh (only lowercase)

• ❌ ABCDEFGH (only uppercase)

• ❌ MyCompany (no number, no special char)

• ❌ Pass@1 (only 6 characters)

How to Change Password:

1. Type your new password in “New password” field

2. Type it again in “Confirm password” field (to verify spelling)

3. Click “Generate OTP” button – This sends a verification code to your mobile

4. Check your mobile for the OTP (wait 1-2 minutes if not received)

5. Enter the OTP in the “Enter OTP” field

6. Click “Submit” to confirm your new password

If you want to start over: Click “Reset” button to clear everything and try again.

After Successful Password Change:

You’ll see your PM-WANI Dashboard – your control center for the entire application process!

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STEP 6: Access Your PM-WANI Dashboard

This is your personal control room for managing your PM-WANI application.

What You’ll See on Dashboard:

Status Summary Section:

• Total number of applications you’ve submitted

• Different license types available (UL, UL-VNO, WPC, OSP, SACFA, PM-WANI)

• Quick action buttons for each license type

Two Important Tabs:

1. Current Applications Tab

   • Shows all applications you’re currently working on

   • Status of each application (Pending, Under Review, etc.)

   • Application ID for reference

   • Date when you submitted

   • “Upload Signed Application” button to upload your digitally signed copy

2. History Applications Tab

   • Shows completed applications

   • Applications for which certificate has been issued

   • Historical records of all your past applications

Dashboard Buttons You’ll See:

• “Apply Now” – To start a new PM-WANI application

• “Update Profile” – To modify your company information (only when no application is pending)

• “Helpdesk” – For support and questions

• “Change Password” – To change your password anytime

• “Document Checklist” – To see what documents you need

• “Fee Calculator” – To know the application fee

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STEP 7: Apply for PM-WANI Certificate (4-Part Application Form)

This is the main application step. It’s divided into 4 parts.

What You Do First:

1. On dashboard, find “PM-WANI” section

2. Click “Apply Now” button next to it

3. The 4-step application form opens

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PART 1: Company Information

This section shows the company details you provided during registration. You don’t need to enter anything here – it’s just a display.

What You See:

• Company Name

• Company CIN (Company Identification Number)

• Corporate office address

• Registered office address (official company address)

• Authorized contact person’s details

What You Do:

1. Review everything – Check if any detail is wrong

2. Click “Save Draft” – This important step creates an Application ID for your application

3. Write down your Application ID – You’ll need this for reference

Why Save Draft? Without saving, the system doesn’t create an Application ID and you can’t move forward.

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PART 2: Application Type & Company Documents

Here you specify what you’re applying for and upload your company registration documents.

What You Choose:

• Application Type – Select “PDOA” (Public Data Office Aggregator) or “App Provider” depending on your role

Documents You Must Upload:

1. Copy of Company Registration Certificate

   • Must be in PDF format only (not Word, Image, Excel, etc.)

   • File size must be LESS than 1 MB (keep it small)

   • Should be clear and readable

2. Copy of CIN Certificate (if separate)

   • Same format requirements as above

   • Should clearly show your 21-digit CIN number

How to Upload:

1. Click “Choose File” button

2. Find the PDF file on your computer

3. Click “Open” to select it

4. The filename appears in the field

5. Click “Upload” button

6. Wait for confirmation “File uploaded successfully”

Document Compression Tip: If your PDF is larger than 1 MB:

• Use an online PDF compressor

• Scan at lower resolution

• Merge multiple PDFs into one

• Remove unnecessary pages

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PART 3: Promoter & Other Details

Here you provide information about company promoters (owners/founders) and other company-related details.

What You Fill:

• Names of company promoters – All people who own or founded the company

• Ownership percentage – How much each promoter owns

• Promoter addresses – Where each promoter lives

• Other company details – Any relevant information about company structure

Documents to Upload:

• Company formation documents

• Promoter identification documents

• Other relevant company records

All documents must be:

• PDF format only

• Less than 1 MB each

• Clear and readable

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PART 4: Other Details & Final Certificates

This is the final part before submission. Here you upload important documents and accept legal declarations.

Documents Required:

1. Board Resolution (MUST HAVE)

   • A formal decision/approval from your company’s Board of Directors

   • Approving the authorized person to apply for PM-WANI certificate

   • Must be in PDF format only

   • File size less than 1 MB

   • Should have official company letterhead and stamp

   What it should say: “The Board of [Company Name] hereby authorizes [Person Name] to apply for PM-WANI Certificate and to sign all related documents.”

2. Any Other Documents (Optional)

   • Additional supporting documents

   • Must be digitally signed using Licensed CA certificate

   • PDF format only

   • Less than 1 MB each

Important Legal Declarations:

You must READ and ACCEPT three declarations:

Declaration A: “I have read the PM-WANI guidelines and will follow all rules”

• This means you understand government requirements

• You promise to follow all regulations

• You acknowledge the terms and conditions

Declaration B: “I will follow all applicable Indian laws and rules”

• You agree to comply with Indian telecommunications laws

• You follow all government orders and regulations

• You’ll maintain all required standards

Declaration C: “Everything I’ve told you is true and correct”

• All information provided is accurate

• No false details were submitted

• If any information is found false, your application will be cancelled

• Your certificate (if issued) can also be cancelled

How to Accept:

1. Read all three declarations carefully

2. Understand what you’re committing to

3. Click the checkbox next to “I ACCEPT THE ABOVE CONDITIONS”

4. Click “Submit” button

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Validation and Preview:

Before final submission:

1. Click “Validate Application” – The system checks if all required fields are filled and documents are uploaded

   • If validation fails, it shows what’s missing

   • Fix those issues and validate again

   • Repeat until it passes validation

2. Click “Preview Application Form” – This shows you how your application looks as a PDF

   • Review everything one final time

   • Check spelling and accuracy

   • Make sure all details are correct

   • This is your last chance to catch errors before final submission

3. Check “I ACCEPT THE ABOVE CONDITIONS” checkbox

4. Click “Submit” – Your application is now submitted

After Submission: The portal shows a success message and you’re redirected to your dashboard.

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STEP 8: Upload Digitally Signed Application

This is an important verification step that proves your application is official and authorized.

What Is Digital Signature?

Think of it like a digital stamp of approval. Instead of signing a paper document with pen, you use special software to sign the PDF digitally. This proves:

• The application comes from your company

• Your company officially authorized it

• No one changed the document after signing

• The signature is legally valid

How to Get Digital Signature:

Step 1: Download Application

1. Go to your dashboard

2. Click “Upload Signed Application” button

3. Click “Download Application” button

4. Your application PDF downloads to your computer

5. Save it safely

Step 2: Get Licensed Certification Authority (CA)

1. Visit cca.gov.in (Controller of Certification Authority)

2. Search for “Licensed CAs” in your city or state

3. Choose a nearby CA

4. Make a list of nearby CAs with addresses and phone numbers

Step 3: Visit CA Office

1. Go to the CA office with:

   • Your company registration documents

   • Authorized person’s ID proof (Aadhar, PAN, etc.)

   • Downloaded application PDF

   • Board resolution (proof of authorization)

2. Give them your application PDF

3. They digitally sign it using special software and digital certificate

4. Takes about 15-30 minutes usually

5. You get back the digitally signed PDF

Step 4: Upload Signed Application

1. Return to your dashboard

2. Click “Upload Signed Application”

3. Click “Choose File”

4. Find the digitally signed PDF on your computer

5. Click “Open”

6. Click “Upload”

7. Click “Submit”

After Upload: Your application goes to the LSA Dashboard (government’s side) for scrutiny.

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STEP 9: Wait for Government Approval

This is the final step – patience required!

What Happens:

Government Review (7-14 days):

1. LSA receives your application – Government officials get notified

2. Document verification – They check if all documents are correct and complete

3. Background check – They verify company details with government records

4. Compliance review – They ensure you meet all PM-WANI requirements

5. Decision – They either approve or ask for more information

Tracking Your Application:

You can check status anytime:

1. Login to your dashboard

2. Go to “Current Applications” tab

3. Find your application with Application ID

4. Check “Application Status”

Possible Statuses:

• Submitted – Your application is received

• Under Review – Government is checking it

• Approved – Congratulations! Certificate will be issued

• Clarification Needed – More information required (check email for details)

• Rejected – Application was not approved (email explains why)

If Clarification Needed:

1. Check your email for government’s request

2. Prepare required additional documents

3. Login to dashboard

4. Upload the new documents

5. Submit explanation

6. Government reviews again

When Approved:

1. You receive congratulatory email from government

2. Your PM-WANI Certificate is issued

3. You can download it from dashboard

4. Application moves to “History Applications” tab

5. Certificate shows you’re officially registered

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Important Rules & Restrictions

Document Requirements:

What NOT to Do:

❌ Don’t upload fake or forged documents
❌ Don’t use unlicensed CA for digital signature
❌ Don’t submit false information
❌ Don’t try to bypass security steps
❌ Don’t share your login credentials
❌ Don’t upload files larger than 1 MB
❌ Don’t modify documents after signing
❌ Don’t ignore government emails or requests

What You SHOULD Do:

✅ Use genuine, original documents
✅ Get digital signature from licensed CA only
✅ Upload documents in correct format (PDF)
✅ Keep file sizes small (compress if needed)
✅ Follow all instructions carefully
✅ Double-check everything before submitting
✅ Keep your password secure
✅ Check email regularly for updates
✅ Respond promptly to government requests
✅ Keep copies of all documents

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Timeline: How Long Does Everything Take?

Tip: Don’t rush the government approval. They review thoroughly to ensure quality.

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After Approval: What Is Your PM-WANI Certificate?

Once approved, you receive an official PM-WANI Certificate which means:

✅ You are legally registered with the government as a PM-WANI provider
✅ You can legally offer Wi-Fi services under PM-WANI program
✅ You are authorized and trusted by the government
✅ You must follow all regulations and maintain standards
✅ You can operate Wi-Fi hotspots as per guidelines
✅ You can provide services to the public

Certificate Shows:

• Your company name

• Certificate number

• Date of issue

• Validity period

• Scope of operations

• Government seal and signature

What You Can Do Now:

• Set up Wi-Fi networks

• Charge customers for Wi-Fi access

• Maintain the networks to government standards

• Expand your Wi-Fi services

• Renew certificate when expiry approaches

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Need Help? Resources Available

On the SARAL SANCHAR Portal:

1. Helpdesk – Contact government support

   • Submit questions online

   • Get response from officials

   • Available during business hours

2. FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

   • Common questions answered

   • Helpful tips provided

   • Updates about process

3. Document Checklist – Know what you need

   • Complete list of required documents

   • Format and size requirements

   • Where to find each document

4. Fee Calculator – Know the cost

   • Enter your company type

   • Get exact application fee

   • Payment method options

External Resources:

• CCA Website (cca.gov.in) – Find licensed digital signers

• DoT Website – Official government information

• PM-WANI Guidelines – Download full rules from portal

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

Registration Mistakes:

❌ Typing wrong email (you won’t get login credentials)
❌ Typing wrong mobile (you won’t receive OTP)
❌ Using fake company name
❌ Selecting wrong company type

Document Mistakes:

❌ Uploading in Word format instead of PDF
❌ File size larger than 1 MB
❌ Using damaged or unreadable scans
❌ Uploading expired documents
❌ Getting signature from non-licensed CA

Application Mistakes:

❌ Not saving draft (application ID not created)
❌ Not validating application (errors not caught)
❌ Submitting before uploading documents
❌ Not uploading digitally signed application
❌ Using weak password (easy to hack)
❌ Sharing login credentials (security risk)

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Quick Troubleshooting

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Final Reminders

Before You Start:

• Have all company documents ready

• Prepare email and mobile phone

• Find a licensed CA near you

• Plan 2-3 hours for the process

• Have strong password ready

During Registration:

• Read all instructions carefully

• Fill information accurately

• Don’t rush through steps

• Double-check everything

• Save important emails

After Submission:

• Monitor your email for updates

• Check dashboard regularly

• Respond promptly to government requests

• Keep your login credentials safe

• Save all downloaded documents

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Success Checklist

Before final submission, verify:

• ✅ All company details are correct

• ✅ All documents are in PDF format

• ✅ All file sizes are less than 1 MB

• ✅ All documents are clear and readable

• ✅ Board resolution is complete and authorized

• ✅ Digital signature is from licensed CA

• ✅ Password meets all requirements

• ✅ Application is validated successfully

• ✅ All declarations are read and accepted

• ✅ Email and mobile are correct and active