regulatory initiatives to promote universal access to broadband

Regulatory initiatives to promote universal access to

Broadband

Arvind Kumar

Joint Advisor, TRAI, India

Rapporteur for ITU-D Study Group 6-2/1

- Indian perspective

Focus points

• Background and present status in India

• Current means of broadband

• Why universal access of broadband ?

• Government initiatives

• Recent recommendations of TRAI

• The way forward

Background and present status

1995 : Internet services began by Govt owned company

1998 : Internet services opened for private sector participation

2000: Internet Service Providers (ISPs) were allowed to set International Gateways-submarine and Satellite


2002: International Long distance services opened for private sectors

2002 : Internet telephony allowed to ISPs (in a restricted manner)

2004 : Broadband policy announced

2007: Declared year of Broadband

Background and Present status

Internet Service Providers (ISP)

ISP License holders 370+

Operational ISPs 130+

Broadband Service Providers

72

Operational Internet Telephony Service Providers

32


Subscribers As on Dec. 2004

As on March 2005

As on March 2006

As on March 2007

As on March 2008

Internet 5.45 million 5.55 million 6.94 million 9.27 million 11.09 million

Broadband 0.04 million 0.18 million 1.35 million 2.33 million 3.87 million

Wireless Internet(through mobile handset)

- - - 31.30 Million 66.09

Million

* Internet figures include 3.87 Million broadband subscribers also.


Broadband Policy 2004 defined the Broadband as

“ An `always-on’ data connection that is able to support interactive services including Internet access and has the capability of the minimum download speed of 256 kilo bits per second (kbps) to an individual subscriber from the Point of Presence (POP) of the service provider intending to provide Broadband service.

Current means of broadband access

Why universal access of broadband ?

• Communication is moving from passive to Proactive

• Becoming global, available anywhere, anytime

• Broadband Access will give everyone the opportunity to be part of a massive lifestyle change

Why universal access of broadband ?

• Rural tele-density is also increasing • Rural broadband users are more

interested in educational material, Agricultural material, Animal husbandry, e-health and e-governance (Computerized land records, Motor license, and information related to various welfare schemes)

• Therefore, availability of content with perceived utility is very important

Government initiatives

• The Government of India has recently de-licensed 50 MHz spectrum in 5.825-5.875 GHz band for WiMAX giving boost to WiMAX deployment

• Some of the service providers have already initiated action to provide broadband using this spectrum

• WIMAX spectrum issued to Internet Service providers on city basis

• Spectrum issued in 3.3 to 3.4 GHz range and in chunks of 6 MHz


• Government of India has amended Indian Telegraph Act to extend USO Fund support for rolling out broadband services in rural areas

• Licence fees for rural landline services waived • With USO fund assistance, 10000 towers are

being established for provisioning of mobile services

• These towers can be effectively utilized to provide broadband services also


• USO fund Administrator would evaluate and fund pilot projects for Induction of new technological developments in the telecom sector in rural and remote areas

• USO Fund Administrator has already initiated discussions to provide broadband in all blocks. All options to provide broadband (DSL, cable, wireless etc) are being considered

• Broadband coverage of all secondary and higher secondary schools, public health care centers, Village and community centre

Recent TRAI’s recommendations (2008)

• Government should increase the target fixed for Incumbents for provision of broadband connections

• For this purpose Incumbent should be encouraged to appoint franchisees for providing broadband services to supplement their efforts


• There should be total flexibility in developing a commercial model

• Close monitoring be prescribed to ensure effective utilization of the local loop

• Any procedural restrictions/ limitations should be addressed immediately


• Certification for different Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) for interoperability

• All CPEs conforming to specifications for interoperability should be displayed on website for the information of customers

• Incumbents may declare future plans for

providing broadband using DSL technology to encourage manufacturing of CPEs within country


• Looking at the large coverage of cable TV networks, Cable Operators should be encouraged to provide broadband over their network

• In order to enable the expansion of DTH services in the country, Govt. should ensure availability of more number of Ku band transponders

• This would also encourage the service providers to roll out broadband through DTH platform


• Uniform Right of Way (RoW) procedures across the different states

• Rationalise RoW cost

• RoW procedures should be transparent and publicly available


• USO fund may be utilized to provide subsidy for provisioning of broadband services through satellite in remote and hilly areas

• USO fund may be utilized to subsidies backhaul charges including International Internet bandwidth initially for a period of 3 years to support the rollout efforts to provide broadband service. It may be reviewed subsequently


• Public private partnership need to be encouraged to provide advantage of such facilities to rural masses by encouraging various value added applications

• Multiple Dwelling Units/ buildings require to be ready by internal wiring for the broadband


• Expedite the process of allotment of Spectrum for 3G & WiMAX

• Internet telephony may be permitted to ISPs with permission to provide Internet telephony calls to PSTN/PLMN and vice-versa

The way forward

• There is no definite solution for the growth of broadband

• The broadband market is far from its peak

• It is thus exciting time for policy makers, service providers and consumers

• Broadband has the potential to revolutionize the communication landscape

Contact Information:

Arvind kumar

Email :[email protected]

Ph No. :+91-11-23220209 (work)

+91-9810428700 (Mobile)

Thanks

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