Broadband Blog

The convergence is on us- in mobile phones, broadband and finally would be launched Direct To Home Television. The future is clearly rosy though studded with numerous thorns.

Over a period of time, as I have been tracking the whole issue, the convergence is upon us. DTH providers may be able to provide Internet access; while the ISP’s maybe able to get in the broadcasting business. Reliance has already firmed up it’s plans and has taken steps towards the same. Airtel is jittery about the sub 256k speeds it calls as “broadband based Internet”.

BSNL maybe the dark horse in the race. It has already been able to ramp up numbers and introducing new services would be a matter of choice. Though like all plans, I expect them to screw the oppurtunity royally. With measly 1GB download limits and excessive obessesion towards monitoring usage, they might shoot themselves in the foot.

It would be more rational to introduce a differential in the services. One could be the plain vanilla Internet access- the no holds barred net access. The other may be time shift access TV or pay per view concept of television or content. In this regard, there is no news that BSNL is contemplating any moves. Last heard, they were opposing the Government’s move to unbundle the PSU.

Instead, they could focus on providing services, inherently superior to private players and then make a case against. They can easily take the lead in convergence too by providing cable television through the wires; since they own the last mile, the initial costs would be significantly less that for the incumbent. Sorry Mr Sinha, (the CMD of BSNL)- the dice is heavily loaded against you. Everyone wants you to kick the chair off and write your memoirs,”How I screwed up people’s rights for affordable telecommuniations”.

Convergence maybe happening elsewhere but would need time to take roots here.