BSNL upgrades minimum broadband speed to 2 Mbps

More than one crore BSNL landline broadband customers will get a minimum internet speed of 2 megabits per second as against existing speed of 512 kilobits per second on their existing plans. This move could trigger drop in data speed tariffs of private Telecom operators.

COMMUNICATIONS minister Ravi Shankar Prasad launched the services in Gurgaon on Monday. Launching the service Anupam Srivastava CMD BSNL said, "We have increased the internet speed four times ...we have ensured 2 Mbps is available at last mile, which is the customer premises."

This move by BSNL will ensure that private Telecom operators will be forced to offer the same speed at a lower cost. Further Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is also expected to soon redefine the definition of Broadband speed, which is currently 512 kbps.

The move is one more step towards reviving the BSNL, which is fast losing customers in mobile and lack of addition in customers in landline. The Telecom public sector unit had registered a loss of Rs 7,600 crore in last financial year.

Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "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."

Earlier, Srivastava said that BSNL is on a revival path. "We have added 15 lakh mobile customers in last few months as against 7-8 lakh subscribers, per month."

via hindustan times