In a country where affordable and reliable internet access remains a privilege in many regions, Delhi-based Wiom is trying to flip the script — and now, it has fresh firepower to do it.
The telecom-tech upstart has raised $40 million in a new funding round led by Bertelsmann India Investments and Accel, with participation from Prosus, Promaft Partners, and RTP Global.
This brings Wiom’s total funding to over $57 million, following its $17 million Series A in July 2023.
But unlike conventional broadband players that rely on laying cables or building towers, Wiom’s model is built around empowerment. The company enables households and small ISPs to share their Wi-Fi with others nearby — essentially turning every home into a potential hotspot.
“Our goal is simple yet audacious — bring internet to the next 500 million Indians by making it extremely affordable, inclusive, and decentralized,” said the founding team in a statement.
Wiom’s offering is refreshingly grassroots: broadband plans starting from as low as Rs 4 to Rs 16 for unlimited data over two days. Its 70,000+ WANi (WiFi Access Network Interface) hotspots already cover a significant footprint, and the company aims to scale this up to 5 crore homes and 50 crore users within five years.
Despite a 10% drop in FY24 revenue (Rs 10.8 crore) and a widening net loss of Rs 44.5 crore, the vision and scalability of the model have clearly won over investors betting on India’s Bharat internet revolution.
Wiom faces competition from traditional and newer players like Excitel, RailWire, Netplus, BSNL, and telecom biggies like JioFiber and Airtel Xstream. But its community-based distribution model gives it an edge in tier II/III towns — where demand is high, infrastructure is patchy, and affordability is key.
With fresh funding, Wiom is now looking to strengthen product capabilities, ramp up tech & ops hiring, and expand deep into under-connected districts.
In a digital-first economy, access is the real equalizer — and Wiom’s journey is a bold play to ensure no household is left behind.
By Muskan Dengra
