I was surprised to read about Free Broadband for all by 2009. I have asked the authenticity of this release. The government has collected a huge Universal Service Obligation Fund [ A contribution by Private Telecom players to the Government to enable the latter to provide Telecom services in rural areas] The USO chest is estimated to be around $2.1 Billion.
ET writes that this fund will be used to provide Free Broadband which will boost economic activity. LOL. With just $2.1 Billion, you want to provide a Billion Indians with 2 Mbps of Broadband ? I can bet that this will never happen in India, atleast by 2009. I will eat this post if it happens and play the recorded video 🙂
Read about BSNL’s 2 Mbps Broadband / Fraudband gimmick here. The success of Mobile communications in India is impossible to be replicated w.r.t Broadband. Entry costs for Mobile is as low as Rs 1,200 and requires no basic education for the user. To utilize broadband you need a PC and you can make them cheaper if you implement the suggestions of Bill Gates, Governments must supply / subsidize PCs to the needy and he will share his software – Microsoft Suite for mere $3. The government must introduce subsidies on PCs like they do for Cooking Gas and Fertilizers if they want to see that Economic Activity 😉
Tags: Broadband India, Bill Gates, Free Broadband, Internet India
ET writers do NOT even know the difference between MB and Mb. The ET article mentions 2MB per second, that kind of speed is available in Korea only, even has mainly 3 Mbps and 6Mbps. Although in some parts of the US, Verizon is trying out its FIOS service which promises speeds upto 30Mbps.
I also feel this is an election gimmick. The timing is too good to miss. Elections in 2009. Free broadband by 2009.
Broadband can’t undergo a revolution similar to mobiles. And the minister needs to realize this.