The telecom regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is expected to come out with recommendations on a national broadband plan in the next few day, which according to analysts could result in lower broadband tariffs.

They say the current tariffs are on the higher side due to limited competition amongst service providers.

"I think we would aim at more than 100 million (10 crore) subscribers by 2014 and this is other than wireless mobile broadband, which itself is expected to be more than five crore," TRAI chairman J S Sarma told reporters on the sidelines of the IAMAI India Digital Media Summit event in New Delhi yesterday.

According to the regulator it was targeting a 10-fold in broadband subscribers to 100 million by 2014. There are 1.03 crore broadband subscribers in the country now.

Regarding pushing broadband growth in the country, Sarma said TRAI would shortly come up with recommendations on the National Broadband Plan (NBP). Under the plan, all gram panchayats would be covered by 2012 and villages with a population in excess of 500 to be covered by 2013.

In a consultation paper, TRAI has stated that the factors inhibiting growth of affordable broadband include non- availability of national broadband network to provide connectivity up to village level, non- availability of content in vernacular language and affordability of broadband.