The Hindu : Business : BSNL, MTNL to launch broadband services

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 14, 2005

Business

Business

BSNL, MTNL to launch broadband services

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JAN. 13. The Communications and Information Technology Minister, Dayanidhi Maran, will launch broadband services by the two public sector phone companies — Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) — on Pongal Day in Chennai tomorrow. The services will also be launched simultaneously from Hyderabad, Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata through video conferencing.

The broadband services are being launched after the unveiling of a broadband policy aimed at reversing the extremely low rate of Internet penetration despite handsome gains in the spread of phones, especially in urban areas. In tune with the policy's main aspect of "always on Internet at minimum speed of 256 kbps," BSNL is offering eight tariff plans — four each for the business and household sectors. The monthly minimum plan ranges from Rs. 500 to Rs. 3,300 for residences and Rs. 1,200 to Rs. 9,000 for businesses. BSNL will be offering the services under the "Data One" brand name while MTNL has named its service "Tri Band" and is also offering a 15-day trial plan in Delhi and Mumbai for Rs. 399 at 256 kbps download speed.

The Broadband Policy 2004 envisages 30 lakh, 90 lakh and two crore broadband subscribers by the end of 2005, 2007 and 2010, respectively. The broadband service will provide high speed Internet connectivity for various applications such as web browsing, and e-commerce. In addition, the customer will be able to enjoy multi-cast video services, video on demand, bandwidth on demand and other value-added services. The network for broadband service has been designed to permit triple play services, that is, video, voice and data to the customers. Broadband service would give a fillip to economic growth and enhance the quality of life through societal applications, including tele-education, tele-medicine, e-governance, entertainment as well as employment generation.

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