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Broadband servicehas enabled one to lead better quality of life through various applications such as tele-education, tele-medicine, e-governance, entertainment as well as employment generation . The service has made the growth of GDP possible through high-speed access to information and web-based communication. Keeping this in view, the Government has finalised ‘Broadband Policy – 2004’ to accelerate the growth of Broadband services. The key reflections of the Policy have been - affordability and reliability of Broadband services, incentives for creation of additional infrastructure, employment opportunities, induction of latest technologies, national security and bring in competitive environment so as to reduce regulatory interventions.
The demand for Broadband is primarily conditioned and driven by Internet and Personal Computer (PC) penetration. The level of Internet and Broadband access in the country is low as compared to many Asian countries. Currently, high speed Internet access is available at various speeds from 64 kilobits per second (kbps) onwards and presently, an always-on high speed Internet access at 128 kbps is considered as ‘Broadband’. There are no uniform standards for Broadband connectivity and various countries follow various standards. Therefore, the Government envisions an accelerated growth in Internet penetration and PC as the success of Broadband would largely be dependent on their spread.
Broadband Policy 2004
Broadband has been defined as an always-on data connection supporting interactive services including Internet access with minimum download speed of 256 Kbps per subscriber. The service providers are encouraged to select technologies and equipments offering higher data rate. The new broadband policy aims to target three million broadband subscribers and six million Internet subscribers with a timeframe of December 2005. By the end of year 2010, the policy aims to target 20 million broadband subscribers and 40 million Internet subscribers.
The policy encourages creation and growth of infrastructure through various technologies that can mutually co-exist like optical fibre technologies, digital subscriber lines on copper loop, cable TV network, Satellite and terrestrial wireless technologies. The choice is left to the service provider.
Copper loop using Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL) can provide Broadband services. The age and the condition of copper loop in the country may at best provide 6 million broadband connections. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd.(BSNL)/Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd.(MTNL) along with other owners of copper loop are expected to provide about two million connections by the end of 2005. Further recognising that last mile copper loop is not a ‘bottleneck facility’ for broadband services, access providers shall be free to enter into mutually agreed commercial arrangements for utilisation of available copper loop for expansion of broadband services including content. Use of brand name being treated as a part of the value shall be permitted in such commercial arrangement.
With the new policy in place, the Government intends to make available transponder capacity for Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSAT) services at competitive rates after taking into consideration the security requirements. The Department of Telecom (DoT), in consultation with the concerned Ministries, would soon be proposing additional measures with regard to Open Sky Policy for VSAT operators. VSAT operators would be closely associated while determining the transponder usage charges.
The service providers shall be permitted to enter into franchisee agreement with cable TV network operators. The licensee, however, shall be responsible for compliance of the terms and conditions of the licence. Further in the case of Direct-to-Home (DTH) services, the service providers shall be permitted to provide Receive-Only-Internet Service after obtaining ISP licence from DoT. The DTH Service providers will also be permitted to provide bi-directional Internet services after obtaining VSAT and ISP licence from the DoT.
Significance
The New Broadband Policy is multi-faceted. With the new policy in force, the spread of fibre networks shall be emphasised keeping in view the long term perspective as they are able to provide huge amounts of bandwidth in the last mile as well as provide a true IP and converged network that can deliver high quality voice, data and video.
It has been decided to de-license 2.40-2.48 GHz band for low power outdoor use on non-protection, non-interference and non-exclusive basis. The 5.15-5.35 GHz band shall be de-licensed for the indoor use of low power Wi-Fi systems. For outdoor use, the band 5.25-5.35 GHz shall be de-licensed in consultation with Department of Space while delicensing in the band 5.15-5.25 GHz would be considered after the process of vacation.
To simplify Standing Advisory Committee on Radio Frequency Allocations (SACFA)/Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) clearance, the VSAT operators shall be allowed to start the installation process for VSAT terminals after a period of one month of submitting all relevant documents to WPC for SACFA/WPC clearance wherever the total height of such installation is less than 5 meters above the rooftop of an authorised building. In the case of Receive-Only VSAT terminals and DTH with Receive-Only-Internet, no SACFA/WPC clearance will be required wherever the total height of such installation is less than 5 metres above the rooftop of an authorised building.
A transparent scheme is being outlined separately for time-bound frequency allocation, siting clearance and wireless licensing by removing the cumbersome procedures, computerization and by setting predetermined standards. To keep pace with technological advances, throughput and antenna size for VSATs are proposed to be reviewed periodically.
Commercial VSAT service providers having ISP licence shall be permitted use of same hub station and remote station to provide internet service directly to the subscribers. Further this remote stations shall be permitted to be used as a distribution point to provide Internet services to multiple independent subscribers.
The role of other facilitators such as electricity authorities, various departments of State governments such as IT, Local Self Governments, Panchayats, Health and Family Welfare and Education is very important to carry the advantage of broadband services to the users particularly in rural areas.
The Government has assigned high priority to indigenous manufacture of broadband related equipments and shall endeavour to work closely with the concerned ministries and manufacturers’ associations so that the equipments are made available at an affordable price. (PIB Features)
*PIB Features Unit
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