I was as excited as the other users when BSNL announced last month that its going to come up with free 2mbps upgrades for all its 256kbps broadband users. Though 256kbps can’t really be classified as real broadband but we in India have to live with it owing to pathetic state of internet and networking infrastructure. It came as a pleasant surprise when Mr. Dayanidhi Maran, Hon’ble Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology disclosed his plans for broadband users in this country. He termed the year 2007 as “Year of Broadband”. There is no doubt that he is willing to correct all communication shortcomings and put India in the league of developed nations like USA, UK and Japan.

During late December 2006, both BSNL and MTNL came up with revised tariffs for their respective broadband services. There were numerous plans to chose from and all 256kbps plans upgraded with speeds upto 2mbps subjected to technical feasibility. BSNL Home 250 and Business 700 customers are in for a treat as they stand to gain services worth Rs. 840 and Rs. 2400 respectively per month from this new tariff structure. Customers in other plans will also have the benefit of more speed and added bandwidth. However, the disappointment arrived with the news that Home UL 900 and UL 900 Plus customers will have to live with their existing 256kbps connections and no such upgrades have been planned for them. How can someone explain this kind of double standards? While the customers on low-end plans who pay less per month will be able to enjoy 2mbps speeds and unlimited night downloads, the customers who pay much more will be forced to use their soon to be outdated 256kbps speeds.

There are also news that BSNL won’t be able to provide any new internet connection before March 2007. This is seriously sad for those who have been waiting for the new year to arrive so that they can enjoy unlimited streamed audios and videos, internet TV and other downloads. Those people will have to re-adjust and re-plan their new year with 256kbps connections. There’s nothing that can be done and the term “Year of Broadband” will remain just another term unless the higher officials decide to do something to provide real broadband to people in India. You don’t need a 2mbps connection just to browse a few web pages. You can’t tie up our internet usage with ridiculous data limits. Its like giving us a tasty dish and ask us not to eat. The sooner they realize that, the better it will be for us.

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