Come October 1, India’s internet speed is going to be redefined. Thanks to the state-run BSNL, which has planned to offer its customer a minimum broadband speed of 2 mega bit per second (Mbps) at no extra cost.
Currently, offering a minimum speed of 512 Kbps, this decision seems like BSNL’s one of the many ways to revive its customer base.
BSNL is loosing customers in mobile as well as landline to private operators. The company lost about 1.78 crore wireless and over 20 lakh wireline subscribers between March 2014 and March 2015. The losses for the firm stood at Rs 7,600 crore.
Given the hyper competition in the marker, BSNL's announcement may also private operators to offer higher speed at lower cost. Sectoral regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is also expected to soon redefine the definition of broadband speed, which is currently 512 kbps.
Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad at the launch of the scheme told media, BSNL should have frequent interface with customers and the efforts taken today by increasing the internet definition should help in digital India initiative, which is more for poor.
"We have increased the Internet speed four times ...we have ensured 2 Mbps is available at last mile, which is the customer premises starting October 1," BSNL CMD Anupam Shrivastava said.