Wiom, a Delhi-based internet infrastructure platform focused on expanding affordable broadband access, on Thursday said it raised $40 million in a growth equity round led by Bertelsmann India Investments and Accel.
Prosus, Promaft Partners, and existing backer RTP Global also participated. The round is largely primary, with a small secondary component, founder Satyam Darmora told YourStory in an exclusive interview.
He added, “Most of it鈥90%鈥攊s primary,” said Darmora in an interview. 鈥淲e are more of a tech company, which is enabling existing players to sell more internet. That requires heavy investment in tech and talent.鈥
The firm will use the capital for product development, hiring across technology and operations, and scaling distribution into more underserved towns and districts.
Wiom runs a unique asset-light platform that helps individuals and small internet service providers (ISPs) redistribute their home broadband in sachet-sized internet access packs, starting as low as Rs 5.
Founded in 2015 as i2e1 and rebranded as Wiom in 2021, the company operates as India鈥檚 largest licensed Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA) under the government鈥檚 Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) scheme, which helps expand affordable public Wi-Fi hotspots across India, especially in rural and underserved areas.
The company uses proprietary software installed on home routers, which allows nearby users to connect via a hotel-like login portal without needing to download any app. A portion of the earnings is shared with the original broadband user, helping to bring down their own internet bills.
Wiom partners with around 100 ISPs, mostly small regional players in Tier II, III towns and villages, particularly across Uttar Pradesh and parts of Eastern India. The company currently facilitates access for about one million monthly active users.
鈥淭he cost comes down by around 40-60%, and in some cases, the entire internet bill becomes free because others in the vicinity are using their internet,鈥 Darmora explained. Customers can also pay in daily increments, bypassing the typical upfront payment barriers of broadband plans.
鈥淲iom is addressing one of the most fundamental yet underserved challenges in India鈥攁ffordable and unlimited internet for the masses. Using its unique asset-light, scalable approach, Wiom is laying the foundation for digital infrastructure that can serve the next 500 million Indians,” said Rohit Sood, Partner, Bertelsmann India Investments.
鈥淲e鈥檙e inspired by founders who don鈥檛 just make things better鈥攖hey rethink entire industries. Satyam, Nishit, Ashutosh and Maanas are doing exactly that. Only 10% of India鈥檚 200 million households have access to affordable unlimited internet, and they鈥檝e made it their mission to change that. We鈥檙e proud to back this team as they work to close India鈥檚 digital divide,鈥 said Pratik Agarwal, Partner at Accel
Looking ahead, Wiom expects to grow its footprint by over 100% annually and is working on next-generation tech, including firmware and hardware innovations under an internal 鈥淭ech for Future鈥 initiative. The company says it is not just competing with ISPs but complementing them by bringing first-time broadband users into the ecosystem.
鈥淭his is a segment that鈥檚 a win-win for existing players as well as end users,鈥 said Darmora.
(Edited by Suman Singh)