The ISP licence is available for a token Re 1. That was started off to encourage many companies to provide internet connectivity. Yet, before the project could take off, the public companies – BSNL and then VSNL ( which was a part of the ugly complex) and MTNL felt threatened and nipped them in the bud.

In the bloodbath that followed, a few companies survived. Primarily among them was Sify- whom everyone loves to hate. Glide in Punjab and possibly Rolta. I am not aware of the other ISP’s at present. I think Tata Power was in the ISP business and they sold off to VSNL. Other minor players, minus the financial muscle were just swamped off.

Why? They all had to purchase the last mile link from BSNL or MTNL. In that case, it was overpriced because BSNL was intent on depriving the exisiting customers from enjoying better customer services or speeds. I believe much of the dial up speeds has to do with the server load at the ISP’s and the international gateway connectivity. BSNL was at fault with both- yet only by virtue of they being the monopoly could drive down the prices. At some point of time, people had to compromise on the quality for the prices because the prices for dial up connectivity in India is among the highest in world. That explains the recent thrust of “broadband”. People appreciate the fact that it is DSL. This frees the hssle of blocking the phone line or paying extra rent for another phone line for Internet surfing.

As for the smaller operators, they had survived initially on service plank. Though with passage of time and reasons I just mentioned above, the ISP business became unviable. Though it was for home users. With the explosion of the manufacturing sector and IT industry in late 90′s and early 2000′s, ISP’s entered in Virtual Private Networking or VPN for short. However, this move was blocked by BSNL because it was their network that was being redeployed for VPN. The matter was referred to TDSAT- I am not aware as to what came out of the court case. It wasn’t reported in the media at all.

There was another class of operators- one’s who operated VSAT’s or Very Small Aperture Terminals. Though till recently, prior to the introduction of the “broadband policy”, there was a limit to the speeds! Imagine. Then the Government in all it’s wisdom restricted the same to Indian satellites. Knowledgable people tell me that Indie satellites are overbooked and there is no space for the transmission of data signals. It’s indeed a sad stroy because VSAT’s can be leveraged easily for high data rates and geographical spread to remote locations. All this to protect BSNL.

At present I believe Hughes Direcway is the only established player in the VSAT’s market. They are focussing entirely on the education segment and virtual classrooms. Interestingly, Skumars, better known for their fabrics, wanted to replicate the Hughes network. Though, the idea never took off the ground. I am not aware of any other details.

So well, its been an interesting roller coaster ride and myopic Government policies that have denied the benefits to ordinary Indians.

As the momentous occasion of transcribing Human genome has become history, the spin offs have been amazing. For after years, the discreet molecular mechanisms that underlie much of the process of Cancers, is slowly being unravelled. The worst part is that I am feeling left out of this exciting discovery.

It usually takes in heavy downloads to understand whatever is being talked about. Broadband gave me a rare oppurtunity to log on to the infospace and understand. Hopefully apply the same. Yet the frigging idiots sitting up decide to control the access to information. They feel that I would use it for file sharing or leech on their networks.

Broadband isnt really great and as far as connectivity is concerned, it sucks. Yet, the whole point is that I am happy that it is there in the first case. I shudder to think of my peers and those unfortunate people who don’t have an access to computer itself. Or the ways and means to access the knowledge resources is woefully inadequate.

The whole point here is that it’s extremely frustrating to be restricted. Heavy data wouldn’t load up on a dial up. It isnt me as a health professional who is constrained. I have read accounts of people who wish to work from home. Or log on to the exploding oppurtunity of E commerce. Or perhaps participate in online learning courses. All for knowledge’s sake. Yet, the mandarins are gloating about the way they have us all at their mercy.

If anyone from the media or the BSNL is reading this- kindly note that it isnt the IPTV or the gaming services we need at present. Just give us decent connectivity. As the largest service provider and a public undertaking, it is your responsibilty and our right to demand equitable services.

True, I can now understand why brain drain occurs. And we are left with a HUGE swathe of unworthy idiots…ones who claim that we need Pentium 4′s to run broadband!

The Right to Information is a momentous bill. However, I have a reason to be cynical about the same.

Traditionally the governments have chosen to throttle and gag the media. The fourth Estate has huge responsibilites but the present mess in the print and the television needs to be done away with. I would say, that there are islands of excellence in sea of mediocrity. A comment on the media isn’t warranted here though. The point is that Blogs give a new meaning to dissemination of ideas and information. This is the new form that Governments would definitely try and suppress. By pricing it either very high ( internet access ) or blocking the respective IP’s. While there are ways and means to circumvent the blocks ( by using Anonymiser software or new age Tor networks ) the initiatives are still far and few.

Coming back to the right to information. This allows any Indian to question the money’s worth. The level of investment, the leakages et al. While the appointment of Chief Information Officer has political overtones ( something that I wouldn’t comment on here ) it is hard to imagine the the beareaucracy would allow itself to be made accountable.

As regards to BSNL, I would want to have the following answers:

1) Why was Huawei awarded the tender for Broadband lines despite the fact that it has been under scanner of the intelligence agencies?

2) Why is BSNL persisting with the download limits and what is the exact nature of agreement with the upstream providers? How much does it actually cost BSNL per MB of data transfer?

3)Why has the unbundling of local loop been tanked? The right to information bill allows me to know the minutes of the meeting. I am sure that people up there would want to keep their chairs cosy.

4) Why does Department of Telecom the self appointed “regulator” and why doesn’t TRAI’s recommendations see the light of the day?

5) How much was paid for the licences and why havent the bank gurantees of the private players been encahsed for not venturing in the rural areas, despite the fact that it was one of their licencing conditions?

There are many questions and there has been a flip flop on the policies just to protect the short term interests of BSNL- in affect the consumers.

The only problem is that the mass of people choose to keep quiet. The purpose of the write ups here is that I am demanding information as a concerned citizen. My intent isnt to malaign any soul- howsoever evolved he/ she may be. As public servants, they ought to stand scrutiny for their actions because it is we who elected them in the first case to govern us. Arguably, the present set up isn’t “elected” in the true sense of the term as it doen’t enjoy the majority and vote of the electorate. Just oppurtune circumstances and the corpse worshippers who managed to get in power.

Just ask for your rights. Write to media, generate awareness and spread the word. Debate on the way our country needs to be governed and not accept the fate per se.