Indian Broadband War: BSNL launches 1Gbps broadband to counter rivals
With Airtel and ACT Fibernet providing ultra-fast fiber optic broadband services and Reliance Jio testing JioFiber, a FTTH (fiber to the home) broadband war has begun. It isn't limited to these three anymore as Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha has unveiled a next-generation optical fiber-based BSNL network. State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited will now offer high-speed broadband connections with a 1Gbps download speed. Know more!
BSNL, the second internet service provider to offer 1Gbps speed
Launching the Next-Generation Optical Transport Network (NG-OTN), Sinha said the state-run telco has implemented the project in 45 cities, including capitals, in tune with PM Narendra Modi's Digital India Programme. 100 major cities will be covered under the project by the end of the current financial year. With an expenditure of Rs. 330 crore, it would be implemented in three phases.
Enhanced capacity will help retail customer base: BSNL
BSNL CMD Anupam Shrivastava said: "This project aimed to enhance existing 10G capacity to 100G capacity of Optical Fibre infrastructure of BSNL. This means now in back-end we will have 10 times more capacity and will be launching new plans with 10 times more speed."
New technology's features can restore damaged networks at any mid-location
BSNL CGM Anil Kumar Jain said the 100G OTN will be helpful in servicing Centre's projects like BharatNet, SWAN (State Wide Area Network), NKN (National Knowledge Network) etc. It will also help BSNL to quickly restore telephone services if its network is damaged, especially due to natural disasters. Currently, BSNL offers top speeds of 24Mbps (fixed line broadband connection) and 100Mbps (FTTH network).
BSNL has more users than Airtel
The data available with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) showed that as of 31 March, the state-run BSNL was leading the Indian wired broadband market with 10 million users followed by Bharti Airtel with 1.95 million subscribers.
Airtel, BSNL prepare to take on JioFiber
Reports about Reliance Jio testing JioFiber have been making rounds since last year. Soon, Airtel rolled out V-Fiber broadband at 100Mbps in Dec'16, covering eight cities. JioFiber would launch around Diwali likely with a three-month preview offer and a base plan of 100Gb data at Rs. 500 a month. In Jun'17, BSNL reduced home broadband tariffs in the lead up to JioFiber's launch.
Can scale-up subscriber base without compromising on quality: BSNL
In Jun'17, BSNL CMD Anupam Shrivastava said: "We are open to revamping our fixed broadband plans and match tariff with Jio if needed. We have the largest optic fiber-based network with 700,000 km of cable laid across India."
Hyderabad, the first Giga city in India
Entering the FTTH broadband war to counter Reliance Jio and Airtel, Bengaluru-based ACT (Atria Convergence Technologies) Fibernet launched India's first Gigabit connection in Hyderabad in Mar'17. While the new service is available only in Hyderabad at present, ACT plans to launch the service in 11 more cities soon. The 1Gbps plan is being offered at Rs. 5,999 per month with 1TB FUB limit.
