Broadband service providers to keep download speed greater than 256 kbps

The department of telecommunications, in its communication issued to all
telecom operators, has reiterated that branding or naming services with less
than 256 Kbps download speed is not in accordance with the Broadband Policy
announced in October, 2004.

In the policy, the broadband connectivity has been defined as 'always-on-minimum'
download speed of 256 Kbps. The operators, while marketing such services, should
keep in mind that only always-on download speed of 256 Kbps or above are termed
as Broadband services.

The government has strictly warned the telecom operators who indulge in
marketing or posing to provide broadband services at download speed of 64 Kbps
and 128 Kbps to refrain from such activities/publicizing advertisements as these
types of services will not come under the category of broadband services.

In other words, any download speed, which is at 256 Kbps or more, can alone
be termed as broadband services. Therefore, the telecom operators should not
mislead the consumers by making such advertisements or adopt any marketing
tactics, which would defeat the very purpose of providing broadband services.

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