12 crore customers of BSNL all over India has something to cheer for, finally. In a move which can redefine the very definition of broadband, BSNL will now guarantee minimum of 2Mbps speed for every plan which mentions broadband Internet.
However, 2Mbps speed can only be accessed pre-FUP (Fair Usage Policy) data consumption. Once the FUP limits are crossed, then the speed would drop down to 512 Kbps. This new plan would be effective October 1, 2015, pan India.
TelecomTalk first reported this massive change in BSNL’s policies.
Here is an in-depth description of all the BSNL plans, which are effective pan-India:
For some specific regions in Andhra Pradesh, BSNL has come up with some special plans as well:
For Tirupati, Kurnool, Anantpur, Warangal & Nellore service areas of AP circle:
For Khammam, Ongole, Karimnagar, Cuddappah, Mahboobnagar, Nizamabad, Nalagonda, Adilabad, Srikakulam & Vizianagaram service areas of AP circle
Better Late Than Never
It’s not that BSNL was not aware of the market sentiments, and the expectations from their users regarding a minimum speed for accessing broadband Internet. Way back in 2009, TRAI had specifically said that 2Mbps is the minimum speedwhich can be called as ‘Broadband’. However, little effort went into ensuring that this rule is followed.
Last year, AKAMAI published a report, which slammed Indian ISPs, and declared that India has the slowest Internet speed in entire Asia. Even Vietnam had better Internet speed than India!
In April this year, we reported that except Indonesia, all other Asian countries have better broadband speed than us; and while calculating peak Internet speed, then our dismal performance is among the worst in the whole world.
In April this year, TRAI suggested several recommendations to the Government, which also included defining a minimum speed for broadband definition, across India. However, for mobile Internet, TRAI is still stuck with 1 Mbps minimum speed for 3G connection (as per 2014 notification)
Competition Pushing Performance?
The 4G revolution which is about to hit India can be the major reason BSNL decided to pull up their socks, albeit its too late and too little (1 GB plan with 2MBPS speed will be over in 12 hours flat!).
Reliance Jio’s 4G speed were found to be hovering around 100Mbps, and costs as low as Rs 51 per One GB of data; Airtel’s 4G speed is already challenging other ISPs via TV advertisements and people are actually looking forward to experience some high speed, quality Internet via 4G.
The competition is certainly proving to be too hot for BSNL now, as evident from their latest salvo to impress their customers.
Will this gamble work for BSNL or 4G from private players will seal their fate forever?