2 MBPS DOWNLOADS FROM JAN 1
Dec 21st, 2006 by shan
From January 1, state-owned, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd will offer broadband connections with minimum download speed of 2 mbps, communications and IT minister Dayanidhi Maran said on Wednesday. The existing subscribers of the two firms would be upgraded, with the tariff remaining same. At present, the minimum speed broadband connection is of 256 kbps and BSNL charges Rs 250 a month for it while MTNL Rs 199.
The country has about 3 million broadband users, out of which BSNL has a market share of 43.07 percent and MTNL of 19.26 percent. The government has christened 2007 as the year of broadband in the country expects to have 9 million such connections by the end of 2007.
The government expects to reach the stage of critical mass by mid-2008, after which broadband success might be similar to that of mobile phones in the country.