TRAI issues recommendations on ‘Growth of Broadband’

New Delhi: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued its recommendations on the 'Growth of Broadband'.

The government's Broadband Policy of 2004 had made certain projections for the growth of broadband subscribers. TRAI, taking cognisance of the fact that the growth of broadband in the country is slow and below expected level, had come out with its draft recommendations on the growth of broadband in September 2007, and had sought comments from stakeholders.

Now, based on the feedback and best international practices, it has provided its recommendations, as under:

• BSNL and MTNL should be encouraged to appoint franchisees for providing broadband services to supplement their efforts. Any procedural restrictions/ limitations to be addressed immediately
• TEC should undertake certification of different CPEs model for interoperability for provisioning of the broadband. All CPEs conforming to specifications for interoperability should be displayed on TEC website for the information of customers.
• Incumbents may declare future plans for providing broadband using DSL technology to encourage manufacturing of CPEs within country.
• Government should expedite decision on TRAI's recommendations regarding mechanism and pricing of Spectrum for 3G & Broadband Wireless Access.
• Spectrum for 3G & WiMAX should be made available at the earliest to boost the deployment of broadband using these technologies.
• Streamlining RoW procedures  Central Government may take-up with the state governments to adopt uniform Right of Way (RoW) procedures.
• A district level committee may be formed to study RoW requirement and to take measures to encourage service providers to share ducts.
• Govt. should ensure availability of more number of Ku band transponders to roll out broadband services through Direct to Home (DTH) platform.
• Cable TV operators should be encouraged to provide broadband over their network.
• Utilise Universal Service Obligation (USO) fund to provide subsidy for providing broadband services through satellite in remote and hilly areas.
• Utilise USO fund to subsidise backhaul charges initially for a period of 3 years to support the broadband rollout efforts.
• Precondition that service provider identified for USO Fund subsidy to provide broadband should have spectrum for suitable technology.
• In order to increase the competition to provide broadband in rural areas, more than two service providers seeking minimum subsidy should be identified with a rollout obligation to ensure the establishment of network.
• Encourage Municipal committees to include a clause for making multiple dwelling units and buildings broadband ready by adopting suitable internal wiring while giving clearance for the construction of all such buildings in future.