Broadband Policy 2004

Sl.No Particulars 1. 2. 3. 4. Preamble Broadband Connectivity Estimated Growt !ec nolo"y #$tions %or Broadband Services &arious 'ccess !ec nolo"ies Optical Fibre Technologies Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL) on copper loop Cable TV Network Satellite Media Terrestrial ireless Future Technologies (uality o% Service )(oS* Sim$li%ication o% S'C+' , -PC Clearance .. #t er /ssues Bandwidt 'vailability National /nternet E0c an"e o% /ndia )N/1/* 2ole o% #t er '"encies +iscal /ssues

+ile No.313405,03462 Government o% /ndia 7inistry o% Communications 8 /n%ormation !ec nolo"y 9e$artment o% !elecommunications

B2#'9B'N9 P#6/C: 2004 Preamble !ecognising the potential o" ubi#uitous $roadband ser%ice in growth o" &D' and enhance(ent in #ualit) o" li"e through societal applications including tele*education+ tele*(edicine+ e*go%ernance+ entertain(ent as well as e(plo)(ent generation b) wa) o" high speed access to in"or(ation and web*based co((unication+ &o%ern(ent ha%e "inalised a polic) to accelerate the growth o" $roadband ser%ices, De(and "or $roadband is pri(aril) conditioned and dri%en b) -nternet and 'C penetration, -t is recognised that the current le%el o" -nternet and $roadband access in the countr) is low as co(pared to (an) .sian countries, 'enetration o" $roadband+ -nternet and 'ersonal Co(puter ('C) in the countr) was /,/01+ /,21 and /,31 respecti%el) at the end o" Dece(ber+ 0//4, Currentl)+ high speed -nternet access is a%ailable at %arious speeds "ro( 52 kilobits per second (kbps) onwards and presentl) an alwa)s*on high speed -nternet access at 603 kbps is considered as 7$roadband8, There are no uni"or( standards "or $roadband connecti%it) and %arious countries "ollow %arious standards, &o%ern(ent en%ision an accelerated growth in -nternet penetration and 'C as the success o" $roadband would largel) be dependent on their spread, -t has been

decided that "ollowing shall be the "ra(ework o" the polic), 1.0 Broadband connectivity;

9eeping in %iew the present status+ $roadband connecti%it) is de"ined at present as <'n =always4on> data connection t at is able to su$$ort interactive services includin" /nternet access and as t e ca$ability o% t e minimum download s$eed o% 2.? @ilo bits $er second )@b$s* to an individual subscriber %rom t e Point #% Presence )P#P* o% t e service $rovider intendin" to $rovide Broadband service w ere multi$le suc individual Broadband connections are a""re"ated and t e subscriber is able to access t ese interactive services includin" t e /nternet t rou" t is P#P. ! e interactive services will e0clude any services %or w ic a se$arate licence is s$eci%ically reAuiredB %or e0am$leB real4time voice transmissionB e0ce$t to t e e0tent t at it is $resently $ermitted under /SP licence wit /nternet !ele$ ony.C 2.0 The esti(ated growth "or $roadband and -nternet subscribers in the countr) en%isaged through %arious technologies is as "ollows: ;ear <nding 0//= 0//> 0/6/ 3.0 -nternet Subscribers 5 (illion 63 (illion 2/ (illion $roadband Subscribers 4 (illion ? (illion 0/ (illion

!ec nolo"y #$tions %or Broadband Services

The $roadband 'olic) Fra(ework %isualises creation o" in"rastructure through %arious access technologies which can contribute to growth and can (utuall) coe@ist, Spread o" in"rastructure is a (ust "or health) co(petition and there"ore it would be the endea%our o" the &o%ern(ent that the teleco((unication in"rastructure growth in the countr) is not co(pro(ised in an) (anner, 3.1 Various access technologies+ inter*alia+ are: )a* #$tical +ibre !ec nolo"ies The "ibre optics technolog) can pro%ide nearl) unli(ited bandwidth potential and is steadil) replacing copper network speciall) in intra*cit) backbone networks, This is being deplo)ed in co((ercial buildings and co(ple@es and so(e (etros A big cities ha%ing high*densit) potential broadband subscribers, B)brid Fibre Coa@ial (BFC)+ Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) and Fibre to the Bo(e (FTTB) networks (ake use o" "ibre cabling into the last (ile, The "ibre based (odels are "uture proo" as the) are able to pro%ide huge a(ounts o" bandwidth in the last (ile as well as pro%ide a true -' and con%erged network that can deli%er high #ualit) %oice+ data and %ideo, There are (ore than 2,= lakh route k(s, o" optical "ibre laid b) $SNL A MTNL and (ore than 6 lakh route k(s laid b) pri%ate operators, The spread o" the networks o" pri%ate ser%ice pro%iders ha%e to pla) an i(portant role in bringing the "ibre to ho(es as well as the rural areas and the) are e@pected to "ocus on it, ith the increase in co((ercial a%ailabilit) o" "ibre technologies+ the cost o" "ibre rollout is approaching the cost o" other wired networks, S$read o% o$tical %ibre

networ@s s all be em$ asised @ee$in" in view t e lon"4term $ers$ective. )b* 9i"ital Subscriber 6ines)9S6* on co$$er loo$ ; DSL has pro%ed to be an i(portant technolog) "or pro%isioning o" $roadband ser%ices through the copper loop, The owners o" copper loop ha%e to be gi%en a high priorit) because their role is critical as ke) dri%ers in the $roadband ser%ice (arket using DSL, $harat Sanchar Niga( Li(ited ($SNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Niga( Li(ited (MTNL) as well as other access pro%iders are e@pected to aggressi%el) use their copper loop in"rastructure "or pro%iding $roadband ser%ices through this technolog), !ecognising that last mile co$$er loo$ is not a =bottlenec@ %acility> %or broadband servicesB access $roviders s all be %ree to enter into mutually a"reed commercial arran"ements %or utiliDation o% available co$$er loo$ %or e0$ansion o% broadband services , The owner o" local loop shall be "ree to decide the areas in which in%est(ent is to be (ade to upgrade the in"rastructure "or $roadband ser%ices, The in"or(ation regarding the areas in which $roadband ser%ices are being o""ered b) a ser%ice pro%ider shall be a%ailable in the public do(ain, +urt erB use o% brand4name bein" treated as a $art o% t e value s all be $ermitted in suc commercial arran"ements. There are (ore than 2/ (illion copper loops in the countr) a%ailable with $SNL and MTNL out o" which 62 (illion loops are in rural areas, Copper cable network o" these operators is a co(bination o" old and new cable and this (akes pro%isioning o" $roadband on all the a%ailable copper loop technicall) un"it , There"ore+ around 0=* 4/1 o" the re(aining 05 (illion loops+ i,e, appro@i(atel) > (illion loops can be le%eraged "or broadband ser%ice b) $SNL and MTNL taking into account the condition A li"e o" copper cable and de(and potential, 7ana"ement o% BSN6 and 7!N6 as decided to $rovide 1.. million connections by t e end o% 200.. The corporate A work plan o" these 'SCs ha%e been drawn up "or this purpose, Therea"ter+ annual plan "or e@pansion o" $roadband ser%ices b) $SNL and MTNL will be deter(ined in consultation with the(, . #uarterl) re%iew o" their per"or(ance b) the &o%ern(ent in the Depart(ent o" Teleco((unications (DoT) shall be undertaken to e%aluate the achie%e(ent and rede"ine the "uture road(ap+ i" necessar), -t is hoped that other access ser%ice pro%iders would also pro%ide broadband connections using their copper in a targeted (anner, . constructi%e re%iew o" their per"or(ance shall also be undertaken, )c* Cable !& Networ@ -t is noted that cable TV connection as last (ile in"rastructure reaches (ore people than e%en the telephone copper in"rastructure and can be le%eraged in pro%iding cable operators a new business (odel while gi%ing a sti(ulus to $roadband penetration, ! ere%oreB Cable !& networ@ can be used as %ranc isee networ@ o% t e service $rovider %or $rovisionin" Broadband services. EoweverB all res$onsibilities %or ensurin" com$liance o% terms 8 conditions o% t e licence s all vest wit t e 6icensee. ! e terms o% %ranc ise a"reement between 6icensee and is %ranc isee s all be settled mutually by ne"otiation between t e two $arties involved.

)d* Satellite 7edia &ery Small '$erture !erminals )&S'!* and 9irect4to4Eome)9!E* services would be encoura"ed %or $enetration o% Broadband and /nternet services wit t e added advanta"e to serve remote and inaccessible areas. -t is the intention o" the &o%ern(ent to (ake a%ailable transponder capacit) "or VS.T ser%ices at co(petiti%e rates a"ter taking into consideration the securit) re#uire(ents, Depart(ent o" Space is alread) interacting with VS.T ser%ice pro%iders, Depart(ent o" Teleco((unications+ in consultation with the concerned Ministries+ will soon propose (easures in the direction o" Open Sk) 'olic) "or VS.T operators, The role o" Depart(ent o" Space is critical in such an endea%our, VS.T ser%ice pro%iders are per(itted to trans(it data upto 0Mbps instead o" earlier li(it o" =60 kbps in a Closed Cser &roup do(estic VS.T network, The increased data rate allows new applications like bulk data trans"er "or so"tware industr)+ high*speed backhaul links+ in*house training using audio*%isual etc, !eduction in antenna siDe enables eas) installation+ lower space occupanc)+ lower cost o" hardware etc, .ccordingl)+ the antenna siDe has been reduced to 6,0 (etres and 0,2 (etres "or star network and (esh network respecti%el) in e@tended C*band, -n 9u*band also+ 6 (etre dia(eter antenna in star network has been per(itted, !o @ee$ $ace wit tec nolo"ical advancesB t is s all be $eriodically reviewed , Commercial &S'! service $roviders avin" /SP licence s all be $ermitted use o% same ub station and remote station to $rovide /nternet service directly to t e subscribers. +urt erB t is remote station s all be $ermitted to be used as a distribution $oint to $rovide /nternet services to multi$le inde$endent subscribers. Necessary amendments in t e licence a"reement s all be carried out immediately. 9!E service $roviders s all be $ermitted to $rovide 2eceive #nly /nternet Service a%ter obtainin" /SP licence %rom 9e$artment o% !elecommunications. +urt erB /SP licensees s all be $ermitted to allow customers %or downloadin" data t rou" 9!E a%ter obtainin" necessary $ermission %rom t e com$etent aut ority. 9!E Service $roviders will also be $ermitted to $rovide bidirectional /nternet services a%ter obtainin" &S'! and /SP licence %rom 9o!. )e* !errestrial -ireless !ecognising that terrestrial wireless is another upco(ing technolog) plat"or( "or $roadband+ it as been decided in $rinci$le to de4licence 2.4042.43 GED band %or low4$ower outdoor use on non4$rotectionB non4inter%erence and non4 e0clusive basis. Necessary noti%ication s all be issued. +urt erB noti%ication re"ardin" delicensin" 2.4042.433. 7ED band %or low $ower indoor $ermittin" use o% all tec nolo"iesB w ic inter4alia include t ose based on /EEE 302.11b and 302.11" standardsB as been issued. !o accelerate $enetration o% Broadband and /nternetB t e ..1.4..3. GED band s all be de4licensed %or t e indoor use o% low $ower -i4+i systems. +or outdoor useB t e band ..2.4..3. GED s all be de4licensed in consultation wit 9oS and delicensin" in t e band ..1.4..2. GED would be considered a%ter t e $rocess o% vacation. .lternati%e spectru( bands which are not in high usage and could be deplo)ed "or $roadband ser%ices+ shall also be e@plored and identi"ied,

)%* +uture !ec nolo"ies -n the changing technolog) scenario+ there is a possibilit) o" new options being used "or pro%isioning o" $roadband ser%ices, These technologies can also be utilised "or pro%isioning o" such ser%ices within the licensing "ra(ework o" the ser%ice pro%ider and the spectru( (anage(ent polic) o" DoT, 3.2 (uality o% Service )(oS* .s per T!.- .ct+ 6??>+ T!.- has to prescribe EoS para(eters, &o%ern(ent recognises that EoS para(eters are e@tre(el) i(portant and ha%e an i(pact on in%est(ent and roll*out decisions o" operators, T!.- would be re#uested to prescribe EoS para(eters "or pro%isioning o" broadband ser%ice using %arious access technologies at an earl) date, 3.3 Sim$li%ication o% S'C+' , -PC clearance ! e &S'! o$erators s all be allowed to start t e installation $rocess %or &S'! terminals a%ter a $eriod o% one mont o% submittin" all relevant documents to -PC %or S'C+' , -PC clearance w erever t e total ei" t o% suc installation is less t an . meters above t e roo%to$ o% an aut orised buildin". /n t e case o% 2eceive #nly &S'! terminals and 9!E wit 2eceive #nly /nternetB no S'C+' , -PC clearance will be reAuired w erever t e total ei" t o% suc installation is less t an . meters above t e roo%to$ o% an aut orised buildin". Government ave decided t at t e re%erence to -66 in /N94F o% N+'P42002 s all be deleted to $romote use o% indi"enously develo$ed tec nolo"ies. ! is would enable service $rovidersB ot er t an basic service o$eratorsB to use t e 133041F00 7ED band %or $rovision o% various services under t eir licence. ' trans$arent sc eme is bein" outlined se$arately %or time4bound %reAuency allocationB sitin" clearance and wireless licensin" by removin" t e cumbersome $roceduresB com$uterisation and by settin" $redetermined standards. 4.0 #t er /ssues 4.1 $andwidth a %ailabilit) including international bandwidth is a (aFor dri%er "or broadband ser%ices, -n a co(petiti%e en%iron(ent+ ser%ice pro%iders are e@pected to take appropriate steps "or (aking re#uired bandwidth a%ailable in a ti(e bound (anner within their licence "ra(ework, Cost o" bandwidth constitutes a (aFor cost co(ponent "or $roadband ser%ices, &o%ern(ent and T!.- would address this issue on priorit), T!.- has alread) issued a consultation paper "or international bandwidth leased line cost and is e@pected to address the issue shortl), &o%ern(ent ha%e recentl) decided to reduce the licence "ee "or -n"rastructure 'ro%ider categor)*--+ who pro%ides end to end bandwidth+ to 51 o" .dFusted &ross !e%enue (.&!), Further+ the a(ount o" bank guarantee "or such ser%ice pro%ider has also been reduced to !s,= crores "ro( !s,6// crores, 4.2 National -nternet <@change o" -ndia (N-G-) has been set up b) D-T+ &o%ern(ent

o" -ndia to ensure that -nternet tra""ic+ originating and destined "or -ndia+ should be routed within -ndia, -t is e@pected that N-G- will take appropriate steps "or increasing the utiliDation o" such "acilities 4.3 2ole o% ot er '"encies 'Cs+ content and applications are i(portant constituents "or o%erall growth o" -nternet and $roadband ser%ices, $roadband ser%ices will accelerate decentralised go%ernance at 'ancha)at le%el, The role o" other "acilitators such as electricit) authorities+ Depart(ents o" -Ts o" %arious State &o%ern(ents+ Depart(ents o" Local Sel" &o%ern(ents+ 'ancha)ats+ Depart(ent o" Bealth and Fa(il) el"are+ Depart(ent o" <ducation is %er) i(portant to carr) the ad%antage o" $roadband ser%ices to the users particularl) in rural areas, 4.4 +iscal /ssues The Depart(ent o" Teleco((unications assigns a %er) high priorit) to indigenous (anu"acture o" $roadband related e#uip(ents, -t shall endea%our to work closel) with the concerned Ministries and Manu"acturers8 .ssociations so that the e#uip(ents are a%ailable at an a""ordable price, The depart(ent is conscious o" the "act that $roadband ser%ices can reach the urban and rural consu(ers onl) i" ser%ices are o""ered at a""ordable and eas) ter(s, Depart(ent o" Teleco((unications will work out a package in consultation with Ministr) o" Finance and related Depart(ents as well as concerned ser%ice pro%iders to achie%e this,