In news– The definition of broadband now requires a minimum speed of 2Mbps from telecom operators, after previously requiring a fourth of that bandwidth, 512Kbps, since 2013
What is the new definition?
- As per the new definition, 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 2 Mbps to an individual subscriber from the point of presence (POP) of the service provider intending to provide Broadband service.
- While broadband is generally understood to mean home WiFi connections, government statistics include faster mobile internet connections in the category.
- Wired broadband and wireless broadband will both be subject to this 2Mbps limit.
- The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had formally recommended the new speed to the DoT in September 2021. By the previous definition, there were 825.38 million broadband users in India in November 2022
- The National Telecom Policy 2012 had set a goal of updating the definition of broadband to 2Mbps by 2015.
What are white spots and grey spots?
Places without cellular connectivity at all are called “white spots”. But harder to map are the “grey spots”, areas which show that simply being “connected” still may not let users get enough out of their access.
Source: The Hindu
