Will India top 240mn broadband users by 2015?

NEW DELHI, INDIA: At the Broadband Tech INDIA 2010 event, organized by Bharat Exhibitions and supported by Department of Telecom (DoT) & Department of Information Technology (DIT ) and Department of Information Technology (DIT), experts couldn't arrive at a consensus as to whether two-way cable TVs or third generation telecom technology (3G) or broadband wireless access (BWA) will act as enablers of India's '240mn broadband users by 2015' dream.

A section of experts believe that after information and education, broadband will be the next basic right.

Also Read: Qualcomm may exit India broadband mid-2011

However, Vijay Yadav, MD, South Asia, UTStarcom India, says that at present there are about 30 million fiber loops laid in India. Moreover, in a circumstance of low literacy and computer literacy rates, two-way cable TV will be a better solution.

However, many others differed.

Puneet Garg, VP, Technical, Bharti Airtel claimed that wireless broadband access (BWA) and 3G would be the driver to provide access for the rural masses to this facility. BWA and 3G would be complementary technologies for broadband access.

“Expose people to Internet and then decide at what speed it should be done” was Garg’s solution.

Bijender S. Yadav network planning head Sistema-Shyam Teleservices and T R Dua, Deputy Director-General Cellular Operators Association of India endorsed for opening up 900MHz and lower speed spectrum for rural penetration.

In the context of speeding up broadband and Internet usage, Rajesh Chharia president, Internet Service Providers Association of India decried the step-motherly treatment being meted out to Internet Service Providers (ISPs), which is in turn constraining Internet spread. 

Experts feel that nationwide broadband penetration would help create a knowledge based economy and society and add 20 million jobs, Shashi Dharan, MD of Bharat Exhibitions pointed out.