The government on Thursday announced a new broadband policy and as expected has not accepted Telecom Regulatory Authority's proposal for unbundling the last mile link.

The policy allows Mahanagar Telephone Nigam and Bharata Sanchar Nigam to enter into commercial arrangement with all the service providers on mutually accepted terms and conditions.

"Access providers shall be free to enter into mutually agreed commercial arrangements for utilisations of available copper-loop for extension of broadband services including content," Telecom Minister Dayanadhi Maran said in New Delhi.

He said the two state-owned MTNL and BSNL along with other owners of copper-loop are expected to provide about two million connections by the end of 2005.

Broadband has been defined as an always-on data connection supporting interactive services including Internet access within download speed of 256 kbps per subscribers.

"By the end of year 2010, the policy aims to target 20 million broadband subscribers and 40 million Internet subscribers," Maran said.

External Link:
Broadband Policy 2004