TRAI increases minimum broadband speed to 2Mbps, suggests lower internet charges for rural areas

TRAI has suggested a pilot Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) programme to encourage users in rural areas to adopt broadband connections. According to the plan, the government should consider reimbursing 50 per cent of the monthly broadband fee.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Tuesday revised the minimum broadband speed to 2 Mbps, up from 512 Kbps which was the minimum speed until now, an upgrade from the 256 Kbps and 56 Kbps in the previous years. TRAI released a 298-page list of recommendations to improve broadband connectivity in India. "Definition of broadband has been reviewed and the minimum download speed for broadband connectivity revised upward from the present 512Kbps to 2Mbps. Based on download speed, fixed broadband has been categorized into - Basic, Fast and Super-fast," the regulator in a statement said. A basic connection has speeds ranging between 2 Mbps to 50 Mbps, while a fast connection has a speed ranging between 50 Mbps to 300 Mbps. A superfast connection has a speed above 300 Mbps.