BSNL, MTNL offer broadband services

While MTNL will launch the services in Delhi and Mumbai, BSNL will do it from

Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad

Both Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL)

will launch the broadband services throu-ghout the country from January 15,

2005. The department is targeting around 10 million broadband service users by

the year 2007. While MTNL will launch the services in Delhi


and Mumbai, BSNL will do it from Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad on

the same day.

Minister of Communications and IT Dayanidhi Maran ann-ounced this while

addressing the first meeting of the Members of the Consultative Committee

attached to his Ministry. He was speaking on the recently announced New

Broadband Policy, which was the agenda for the meeting.

According to the Minister, though the 256 kbps costs Rs 3,000 in the market

the telecom PSUs have agreed to provide the same services at Rs 500 month, which

is signifi-cantly low and that will make users more confident to use the

broadband services. "While VSAT should also be used as small hubs the

Government is also allowing DTH operators to operate broadband Internet and

uplink after fulfilling necessary licensing conditions," he added. Maran

further stated that the government has relaxed the conditions for outdoor use of

frequencies to promote Wi-MAX and Wi-Fi.

Maran assured the members that the Department will also closely monitor and

facilitate the spread of broadband and will take corrective measures as and when

required. Since the Government is committed to promote advanced technolo-gies

and is not captive of any particular technology the service providers are free

to opt for the technology of their choice which ultimately comes out from a

healthy competition. The Government has decided to encourage and make the small

operators of the Cable TV to depend on the big players, such as BSNL, MTNL or

any other private players and they can also make use of broadband for their

customers.

Speaking about the great digital divide the Minister said that while the tele-density

in urban areas is 25 percent it is only between 1.2 percent and 1.5 percent in

the rural areas. In view of this, he stressed the need to shift this trend from

urban to rural areas.

According to the members, the rural telephony should be accorded top

priority. Some members pointed out the long waiting lists of mobile phones and

non-availability of SIM cards in many cities. They wanted that necessary steps

be taken immediately to clear the backlog and make SIM cards available.

CyberMedia News


New Delhi