DoT to Submit Final Report on Slow Broadband Speeds to PMO Next Week

The Department of Telecom (DoT) is slated to finalise by next week a report on the issues pertaining to the slow broadband speeds in the country.

DoT had made a presentation on the telecom sector to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said, adding that it was decided in the meeting to prepare a report on the reasons for slow speeds of broadband.

"Presentation was made by Department of Telecom to Prime Minister... In matter related to slow broadband speeds, it was decided that DoT will submit a report in 4 weeks (July 21) on why broadband speeds are so slow in the country," an official source said.

The report may be submitted to the Prime Minister's Office once it is finalised, sources said.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has recently notified that minimum speed of broadband should be 512 kbps.

For wireless high speed Internet services, 3G operators promise mobile Internet speed in the range of 7.1Mbps to 21Mbps. At 7.1Mbps speed, a mobile user should be able to download a full-length movie in around 12-14 minutes.

The minimum speed reported by operators to Trai lies in the range of 399Kbps to 2.48Mbps.

The regulator has noted that the minimum speed delivered by operators doesn't even qualify to be called broadband.

The wireless data services include mobile Internet and broadband services like 2G, 3G and those offered using dongles.

With improvement in technology, quality of graphics and video, the need for high broadband speed has also increased.

Besides broadband, during the presentation it was decided that DoT with Department of Electronics and Information Technology (Deity) will work to make all universities Wi-Fi enabled, as well as leverage rural telephony and broadband highway program to increase domestic production of telecom equipments.

At the meeting with the Prime Minister, it was suggested that DoT work on a common design with railways and road network for quick roll out of optical fibre cable which are important for expanding broadband services in the country.