Trai draft on broadband services delivery prescribes minimum speed of 512 kbps

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) today released the draft direction on delivering broadband services prescribing a minimum download speed of 512 kbps so as to make service delivery transparent. The sector regulator has also sought comments from stakeholders on the proposed regulation.

The Department of Telecommunication had through a notification on 18 July 2013, amended the definition of broadband, to ensure minimum download speed to qualify it as a service.

''Broadband is a data connection that is able to support interactive services, including internet access and has the capability of the minimum download speed of 512 kbps to an individual subscriber from the point of presence (POP) of the service provider intending to provide broadband service,'' the DoT had stated in its notification.

Accordingly, Trai now proposes to supersede the earlier direction dated 27 July 2012 and direct all telecom service providers providing broadband (wireline or wireless) services to furnish compliance to the new direction. This will ensure transparency in delivery of internet and broadband services and will protect interests of consumers of the telecom sector, Trai stated in a release.

The draft direction on delivering broadband services in a transparent manner has been uploaded on the TRAI website www.trai.gov.in. DoT has requested stakeholders to furnish their written comments on the draft direction latest by 1 February 2016. Counter comments, if any, may be submitted by 8 February 2016.

The comments and counter-comments may be sent, preferably by e-mail to kapilhanda@trai.gov.in, a DoT release stated.