Last Update: February 03, 2023, 21:45 IST
India has the second largest number of internet users in the world. (Image: Reuters)
Earlier, the definition notified by the Department of Telecom in July 2013 benchmarked it at 512 Kbps (kilobytes per second) as the minimum download speed.
According to a gazette notification, the government has revised the definition of broadband connectivity, specifying a higher minimum download speed of 2 Mbps (megabits per second).
Earlier, the definition notified by the Department of Telecom in July 2013 benchmarked it at 512 Kbps (kilobytes per second) as the minimum download speed.
“In supersession of the definition of broadband issued vide notification dated 18th July, 2013 and after considering the recommendation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority India (TRAI), the Central Government hereby modifies the definition of Broadband as follows…,” the notification said.
A recent gazette notification states that “Broadband is a data connection capable of supporting interactive services, including Internet access and a minimum download of 2 Mbps for an individual subscriber from a point of presence (POP) speed capability.) of a service provider intending to provide broadband service.” The notification dated January 25, 2023 has come into force with immediate effect.
As of November 30, 2022, India has approximately 825.4 million broadband subscribers, of which 793.5 million are wireless broadband users, and the rest are wireline.
According to the recently released data by the sector regulator, the top five service providers constituted 98.4 per cent market share of total broadband subscribers at the end of November 2022.
These service providers were Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (430.18 million), Bharti Airtel (230.56 million), Vodafone Idea (123.48 million), BSNL (25.85 million) and Atria Convergence (2.14 million).
When contacted, TV Ramachandran, President, Broadband India Forum, said the latest move to revise the definition augurs well for broadband consumers, especially those living in rural and semi-urban areas.
“Broadband penetration has a long way to go when viewed in the context of our overall population. The move to increase the definition of minimum download speed to 2 Mbps is a step in the right direction for consumers.”
In fact, in August 2021, TRAI recommended that “the definition of broadband be reviewed and the minimum download speed for broadband connectivity be increased from the current 512 Kbps to 2 Mbps. On the basis of download speed, fixed broadband is classified into three different categories – basic, fast and super fast.” According to Ookla’s December 2022 Speedtest Global Index, India recorded an average mobile download speed of 25.29 Mbps, Which is better than 18.26 Mbps in Nov. 2022.
Ookla said in a statement on January 27, 2023, “With this, the country has made a huge jump in its global ranking and is now ranked 79th from 105th in November.”
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)