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Introduction of broadband services by two public sector telecom service providers, namely, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), has ushered in the era of highly affordable, high speed, “always on” Internet services in India. Although broadband services were being offered earlier also by leading telecom service providers, but the real credit of bringing broadband services within the reach of common man goes to these two public sector undertakings. This is yet another milestone in the history of the ongoing telecom revolution in the country.
Announcing the Broadband Policy in October, 2004, the Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Shri Dayanidhi Maran had rightly said that although “it is for the industry to decide on the pricing, but Rs.500 to Rs.800 per month is what one should work for at the present.”
MTNL’s cheapest-ever broadband services in Delhi and Mumbai would support three services simultaneously – about 35 channels of Doordarshan, fast Internet connectivity and better quality telephone services. Even if the price level does not come down in immediate future, the country could expect to have nearly three million broadband subscribers by the end of this year, nine million by 2007 and 20 million by 2010.
What is Broadband?
In its simplest form, the term broadband refers to connection speeds that are faster than the normal dial-up speed. The Government, in its Broadband Policy, has defined the broadband as “an always-on data connection that is able to support interactive services including Internet access, and has the capability of providing a minimum download speed of 256 kilo bits per second (kbps) to an individual subscriber.”
This is several times faster than what one can get on a telephone dial-up connection which is normally 56 kbps. The speed, however, goes up to a maximum of 128 kbps in the case of a digital subscriber line (DSL) which uses the same copper cable telephone line. But, even this is far too slow a speed in the context of present day demand for high speed downloading of data.
The now available minimum download speed of 256 kpbs would, therefore, entice customers to use more data services that include, inter alia, exchanging photographs of memorable events and functions, downloading film songs, video clips or surfing the Internet. Since one is not connected through the phone line on broadband, as is the case in dial-up, it means not only a saving on time because of very fast speed, but also the money spent on telephone bills.
Need for Broadband
Broadband services have a direct impact on the growth of GDP and enhancement of quality of life through societal applications like tele-education, tele-medicine, e-governance, entertainment, as also employment generation by providing high speed access to information and web-based communication. In fact, there is a lot more one can do with broadband that can not be done on a dial-up, and lot more that one can do better, for example, video conferencing, gaming and downloading heavy files like business presentations and marriage photographs. By using broadband one would get a clear and uninterrupted video and audio stream, but in the case of dial-up, one experiences a jerky video and a distorted voice.
Recognising the potential of broadband services and the catalytic role they can play in pushing up the economy, Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is keen that the benefits of broadband services reach not only urban consumers but also the rural consumers if they are offered affordable prices and easy terms. DoT has, therefore, assigned a very high priority for indigenous manufacturing of broadband related equipment, and is closely working with the concerned Ministries and manufacturers associations for making these equipment available at affordable prices.
Fibre Optics Technology
The biggest advantage of fibre optics technology is its capability to provide nearly unlimited bandwidth. It is this very capability that fibre optics is steadily replacing copper network, especially in commercial buildings as well as housing and shopping complexes in metros and big cities. In addition, fibre optic network provides high quality voice, data and video.
As of now, more than 4.5 lakh route km. (rkm) of optical fibre has already been laid by BSNL and MTNL, and about one lakh rkm by private operators who are going to play an important complementary role in bringing the fibre to urban as well as rural homes. The good news is that, with increased commercial deployment of fibre technologies, the cost of fibre rollout has come down sharply and is fast approaching the cost of other wired networks.
Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL)
DSL is one technology which can provide broadband through copper loop infrastructure on which the bulk of BSNL and MTNL network has been functioning successfully. Currently, more than 40 million copper loops are available with BSNL and MTNL put together. Out of this, nearly 14 million loops are available in rural areas.
To begin with, nearly 25-30 per cent of 26 million loops available in urban areas, i.e. nearly seven million loops can be leveraged for broadband services. Taking into account the condition and life of presently deployed copper cables and also the demand potential, both BSNL and MTNL have decided to provide 1.5 million broadband connections by the end of 2005. Similarly, other access service providers are also expected to draw up plans for providing broadband connections using their copper network, in a phased manner.
Cable TV Network
Taking note of the significant countrywide penetration of cable TV, the Government has, in its Broadband Policy, stated that since “cable TV infrastructure reaches more people than even telephone copper infrastructure, it can be leveraged in providing cable operators a new business model, thereby giving stimulus to broadband penetration.”
For giving it a practical shape, “cable TV network can be used as franchisee network of the service provider for provisioning broadband services. All responsibilities for ensuring compliance of terms and conditions of the license shall, however, vest with the licensee.”
VSAT and DTH Services
Since both VSAT and DTH are satellite-based services, there potential would be exploited for greater penetration of Internet as also introduction of broadband services even in remote and inaccessible areas. For making this happen, the Government is exploring the possibilities of making available transponder capacity for VSAT services at competitive rates, after taking into consideration the security requirements.
VSAT service providers are now permitted to transmit data up to 2 mega bits per second (Mbps), instead of the earlier limit of 512 kbps in a domestic VSAT network. The increased data rate allows new applications like transfer of bulk data for software industry, high speed backhaul links and in-house training using audio visual.
DTH service providers would be permitted to provide ‘Receive Only Internet Service’, in addition to providing ‘Bi-directional Internet Services’, after obtaining license from DoT. Similarly, Internet Service Providers (ISP) would be permitted to allow customers to download data through DTH, after obtaining license from competent authority.
For bringing down the cost of hardware and easy installation, the antenna size has been reduced to 1.2 metres for star network, and 2.4 metres for mesh network in extended C-band. Similarly, one metre diameter antenna has been permitted in star network in Ku-band.
Future Technologies
Changing technology scenario is going to throw up many more options pretty soon. Terrestrial wireless is one such upcoming technology which is going to be utilized for broadband services once the licensing framework for new technologies is in place. Simultaneously, for ensuring quality of service (QoS), the Government has requested Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to prescribe QoS parameters for broadband services, using various technologies, at an early date. In short, India is going to witness an explosive growth of broadband services. (PIB Features)
*Senior Freelance Writer
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