Of course, I am pissed off with the development. There is no infrastructure to speak off. Hence even though I know that broadband came in picture in and around 2004, it’s been over 6 years and we are hardly seeing any traction in the space as far as the speeds and/or prices are concerned.

Hence it is to have them admit on paper that the prices have “stagnated” indeed. 256 kbps is nothing in this day and age when the speeds elsewhere have touched over Gigabits.

The “perfect pricing” can always be debated. I would root for ATLEAST 2 mbps for INR 700-900 price band. This of course has to come with any stupid “fair usage policy”. In any case, wherever there is abuse of the network, they ought to ask the customer to perhaps a higher speed band.

Network abuse is in built and the very idea that traffic is being monitored ought to be deterrent enough. In any case, even with the restricted traffic shaping, I hardly see any traction in the space; it is an awful experience to stream the videos or access data intensive web sites.

If majority of the user space in India centers on Social Networking/Matrimonial sites and email, I don’t foresee any “overloading” of the networks. If they are really interested in lowering the overall costs, then they have to explore alternatives like NIXI to peer the data amongst themselves or cache the data for faster access.

Why BSNL then? Foremost reason is that I am it’s customer. Secondly, it can be alleged that because of it’s “monopolistic stance”, the real “revolution” in speeds and prices has to come only after goading it to work. If BSNL as the “market leader” is made to act on prices being offered, others have to match up to it. Well, thats what the intention in the long run is.

One more thing. I have specifically asked for the various break up charges. I strongly feel that the charges ought to be in public domain. How much is BSNL really affected? It is buying bandwidth from upstream and distributing it (apart from owning it’s own gateways, if I am not mistaken). One ought to know how much it really costs to move gigabytes of data on it’s pipes. In the same vein, RTI filed with TRAI previously was very clear that there is nothing like “Fair Usage Policy”. Hence it would at least force BSNL to acknowledge that FUP is “illegal” and help is to fix a responsibility as to who has come up with the idea. He/She should be hauled up over the coals.

Hence this is truly a disruptive power of RTI to expose the cosy nexus between the various ISP’s because they are defrauding their customers. One particular issue that caught my eye was FTH service being advertised as “upto 1 Mbps” and being more expensive than the same service being offered by DSL. Hence, I have asked them for an explanation about the same and the differential in pricing. FTH is not being advertised heavily which has the real potential for future.

I am also keen to know about the “limitation of upload speeds” of 768 kbps (as per their web site); I feel that this is an artificial restriction and should have their response on “traffic shaping”.

It is very clear from the outset that much of the information would be withheld, not revealed etc etc. Hence the best option is to wait, file an appeal and then present the case strongly in the state information commission.

I am willing to fight it out.

Tags: API, Appeal, Broadband, BSNL, BSNL Broadband, DTH, EDGE, fraud, India, ISP's, Telecommunications India, TRAI, Web Sites

This is a non pdf version listed here:

16th December 2010

To
The Central Public Information Officer, BSNL,
O/o General Manager Telecom,
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited,

Sub: Information sought under RTI Act 2005 regarding the definition of Broadband, the prices and clarification of “limits” sought.

Dear Sir,

THIS INFORMATION IS SOUGHT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, AND THERE IS OVER-RIDING PARAMOUNT LARGER PUBLIC INTEREST TO BE GIVEN THE INFORMATION I HAVE ASKED FOR. This information is sought under the RTI Act 2005, and as the applicant I would retain the right to inspect or ask for certified copies of the relevant documents/records/informations.

Please explain the following:

1)What is the defintion of the term “Broadband”?

2)What is the source of definition? Please provide relevant documents to support your contention.

3)Since when BSNL has been offering Broadband services? Please mention the date and commencement of services in India.

4)What are the various speeds being offered by BSNL?

5)What are the charges for various speeds being offered?

6)How have the charges been arrived at? Please provide AN EXACT BREAK UP of the costs incurred by BSNL to provide the broadband services for RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS. The break up should include the cost of the overheads, the costs involved in keeping the lines functional, the cost of the bandwidth or any other head as mentioned and filed.

7)What is the cost of Fibre To Home Service (referred to as FTTH) being offered by BSNL?

What is the break up of the cost of Fibre to Home Service? How has BSNL arrived at this cost?

9)Who sanctions the use of Optic Fibre for domestic usage? Under what conditions can a residential customer apply for the same?

10)What is the BREAK UP of the cost incurred by BSNL to provide Internet over optic fibre? How has the cost been arrived at? Please give the relevant file notings regarding the same.

11)Who in your organization decides about the pricing of Broadband? Who gives the order for new plans to be introduced? How are the various plans AND the charges are arrived at?

12)What is the email id AND contact details of the concerned person who deals with Internet and Pricing of broadband?

13)Where does BSNL purchase it’s wholesale bandwidth from? What is the break up of the price paid to the company from where BSNL purchases it’s wholesale bandwidth?

14)Who in your organisation decides about purchase of the modems. Under which rules do you certify the modems? Where are the rules listed?

15)As per media reports, a large percentage of your landline subscribers have surrendered their connections. How many landline connections were surrendered in the past one calendar year (2009-2010)? What initiatives have been taken by your company to sell Broadband on land line as a value added service?

16)Kindly provide the details of the advertising spend for promotion of Broadband in India. How much of it was allocated to promotion of broadband over landline?

17)What is the meaning of the term “UNLIMITED Broadband” listed on the web site: (http://www.bsnl.co.in/service/New_BB_postpaid.htm)?

18)If the plans are unlimited, by natural corollary, the speeds should remain the same throughout the monthly billing period. Why are the speeds to be reduced (under the plans labelled as ULD- unlimited with differential speeds) after downloading a fixed limit of data as listed under various heads on this web site link: (http://www.bsnl.co.in/service/new_BB/BB_home_only_unlim.htm)

19)Who decides the “limit” of data to be downloaded in the “unlimited plans” and speed reduction after the same? What is the file noting/information related to it? Who has signed the official sanction for the same? Why has it been done? How has this figure of “unlimited” been arrived at?

20)Under the clause mentioned on the web page (http://www.bsnl.co.in/service/New_BB_postpaid.htm) it has been clearly mentioned that “For Broadband plans where bandwidth is 1Mbps or more, the uplinking will be maximum upto 768 kbps”. Why has it been done so? What is the justification to arrive at such a clause? How has the figure of 768kbps been arrived at?

21)What is the meaning of the term,” UNLIMITED WITH FAIR USAGE” (ULF) as listed on the web page (http://www.bsnl.co.in/service/New_BB_postpaid.htm). Who decides what is FAIR USAGE? Where has the term “FAIR USAGE” come from?

22)Is the term “FAIR USAGE” mandated by the regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (referred to as TRAI)? If yes, under which provision of TRAI’s notification has this term been defined? What is the relevant file noting/ notification/ web site address under which BSNL has defined the term “FAIR USAGE”. If this term has not been defined by TRAI, who has authorized the use of the term “FAIR USAGE”? Kindly provide the details of the file noting/ decision taken to issue the term “FAIR USAGE”.

23) Under the web page (http://www.bsnl.co.in/service/bb_ftth.htm#q1) in section related to FTTH bandwidth “UPTO 1 Mbps” has been listed as Rs. 2999. Under the Broadband prices listed on web page (http://www.bsnl.co.in/service/new_BB/BB_home_only_unlim.htm), the price for 1Mbps (upto 15GB) has been listed as Rs. 1000/- (all tariffs listed are excluding the service tax).

I need to know :
a) What is the meaning of the term “upto 1Mbps” ? Can the speed vary from 128kbps to 1 Mbps? Who has defined the term “upto 1 Mbps”? Is this mandated by TRAI? If yes, where is the relevant file noting/notification/web address of the communication received from TRAI? Where has this been mentioned on their web site?

b) Why is there a price difference between the two services when the speeds i.e. 1 Mbps are same in both the plans? Kindly explain this in detail.

Tags: 1Mbps, Advertising, author, Broadband, Broadband in India, BSNL, BSNL Broadband, DTH, India, Internet, Landline, Media, Telecommunications India, TRAI

RTI filed with BSNL; I shall be submitting it by tomorrow. It is overdue by many months but I had to prioritize a lot of other commitments.

Please feel free to submit it from your end.

Thanks!
BSNL RTI Application Online

Tags: Broadband, BSNL, BSNL Broadband, Telecommunications India