The consumers who subscribe to direct-to-home services may soon be able to get broadband services from their operators as well.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has recommended that the government ensure and expedite availability of more Ku band transponders (which can be used for TV as well as data transmission) so that DTH companies can also offer broadband services.
There is a severe shortage of Ku band transponders even for broadcasting. But the regulator has suggested that the Indian Space Research Organisation (one can take transponders on lease only from ISRO) -- which is launching two more satellites with Ku band transponders and negotiating for more from Malaysia's Measat -- should expedite the process.
Trai had earlier suggested that the government should follow an open sky policy and allow DTH operators to get into long-term contracts with international satellite companies.
These are among the recommendations of a report released on Wednesday by Trai. The report seeks to boost the current poor growth of broadband in the country.
DTH operators, however, say that broadband on their platform will not be cheap and may be effective only in areas where there are few alternatives.
Dish TV (country's largest DTH operator) head Jawahar Goel says that to get a two-way communication (which is required in Internet and not for TV channels), subscribers may have to fork out around $500 for a satellite modem (of course you can subsidise).
"We are planning to keep some capacity on our Agrani (controlled by the Subhash Chandra-led group) group satellite for broadband as we will have over 10-12 transponders by April. But it will be a limited market. There are also many regulatory