Major ISPs gear up broadband in Agra

VISHAL SHARMA

AGRA, 20 JAN. Tired of biting your nails for the website to load on your screen or the download to complete? At least four major broadband players are gearing up to your rescue but wait; it’s not a time to celebrate yet!

Despite the presence of big names like Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Reliance, Airtel & Satyam in the fray, Agra residents may have to wait a bit longer as the portals to this broadband revolution are not expected to open before March this year.

According to the definitions set by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), any internet service that offers bandwidth in multiples of 128 kbps can be termed as a broadband service and judging by these standards, only Reliance, which has already launched its broadband services in Agra, riding the advantage of Wireless-in-Local-Loop (WLL) technology, can be termed as a broadband service provider.

The company is offering broadband internet through its mobile handsets and Fixed Wireless Terminals at extremely competitive rates of Rs. 500 per month for a shared bandwidth of 144 kbps, but the service is yet to gain acceptance among the internet users due to the fluctuating signal strength on the Reliance mobile network.

Satyam, one of India’s first private Internet Service Providers (ISPs), has also started laying out its broadband hubs at its “i-ways” scattered all over the town, offering “Instant-On” internet connectivity through a cable running into homes and offices at Rs. 299 a month for 64 kbps bandwidth & Rs. 499 for 128 kbps but being based on cables that require high-maintenance, the services are yet to catch up.

With Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd offering its broadband services at Rs 500 a month for 256 kbps, Bharti or Airtel (as the brand is popularly known) has also introduced a competitive tariff of its broadband service at 256 kbps for just Rs. 500 but while both these companies have launched their services in Noida, the “IT town” of Uttar Pradesh, they are yet to make a debut in western Uttar Pradesh telecom circle.

Upon being contacted regarding the preparations made by the company for the launch of broadband services in the town, P.K. Srivastava, General Manager, BSNL Agra said that BSNL is ready to launch the services in Agra, but the practical problems of a simultaneous “circle-wide launch” are hampering the progress. Hopefully, he said, the services shall be launched in March this year.

Elaborating on BSNL’s preparations for the launch of the service in Agra, the General Manager said that at present, BSNL has the capacity of serving 5000 Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) broadband connections in Agra and despite the fact that the service is still to be launched, the company has been able to register almost 2000 prospective subscribers, both domestic and commercial in the past two months, indicating the reliable image of BSNL in its subscribers.

Citing the example of BSNL’s success in the Cellphone segment despite its late entry, Mr. Srivastava said that BSNL is still watching the market and the company is confident that when it does enter the broadband segment, it shall sweep the market.
(UNITED NEWS NETWORK)


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