Broad-based overhaul needed
The second phase of telecom revolution in India will commence only when rules governing broadband and internet promotion are simplified
The National Telecom Policy, announced by Government of India in 2012, has laid down an ambitious target of providing affordable and reliable broadband-on-demand by the year 2015. It has targeted 175 million broadband connections by the year 2017 and 600 million by the year 2020 at minimum 2 Mbps download speed and making available higher speeds of at least 100 Mbps on demand. In order to achieve the same, it would be necessary that the last mile connectivity to the customer’s premises is capable to handle this high speed connectivity. This necessarily requires Optical Fibre Cables (OFC) to be laid to the homes or buildings or even to wireless transmission towers in the area. NTP 2012 provides for a strategy to encourage Fibre ToThe Home (FTTH) with enabling guidelines and policies favouring fast transformation of cities and towns into ‘Always Connected’ societies.
Promoting Open Access Shared Fibre Infrastructure: Optical Fibre Access Networks are expensive to build but have unlimited bandwidth. In order to fully utilise their capacity and avoid unnecessary expenditure on duplication of network, government should encourage Infrastructure Provider (IP) companies to build the optical fibre access networks which can be shared by multiple service providers to make the same affordable to them and also giving choice of service providers to customers.
NTP 2012 already provides for sharing of active and passive infrastructure in order to enable operators to optimally and efficiently utilize their networks. Though passive infrastructure sharing is permitted by IP companies but there is no clarity about active infrastructure
sharing. Sharing of active infrastructure by IP companies for OFC access networks needs to be permitted urgently for achieving NTP 2012 broadband targets.
Building ranking system (a.k.a. “Em
blem” policy): NTP 2012 provides for promoting use of In-Building Solutions (IBS) and Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) in coordination with Ministry of Urban Development by aligning the National Building Code as well as embedding these critical requirements in the process of development planning and finalization of master plans for rural and urban areas in consultation with the State Governments. This should also encompass provision of high speed wireline broadband infrastructure in the buildings.
South Korea has already implemented an “Emblem” policy. ‘Emblem’ is a requirement that buildings obtain and display certification indicating the level of internet connectivity available to residents at that premise. Highest ranking is reserved for facilities with fibre connectivity to individual homes or offices with connectivity speeds of 100Mbps or higher. Second-level ranking may for facilities connected with fibre to the building [FTTB] with per-unit connectivity speeds of 50-100Mbps. This program has expanded to Malaysia’s national fibre implementation plan, HSBB. It is also under consideration as part of other national broadband programs in Asia. DoT should take up with Ministry of Urban Development for implementation of such a policy urgently for growth of high speed broadband in our country.
Legislation for new buildings: This policy requires that all new building construction use fibre infrastructure. Australia has implemented this through national legislation. Chinese Government has issued regulations in April 2013 prescribing design, construction and inspection standards for FTTH wiring in all new buildings which require:
All newly built residences, if they are located in counties and cities where a Public fibre optic telecom network is available, to be equipped with Fibre network connections.
All housing and residential FTTH installations must be designed to provide fair network access capabilities to multiple broadband operators, allowing customers to choose their preferred operator.
The underground telecom conduits, underground wiring networks, equipment rooms and other new facilities for new housing and residential Development projects must be constructed and inspected in tandem to ensure FTTH compatibility
Laying of high speed broadband infrastructure should be made mandatory for all real estate developers for all new housing projects just like water, electricity, sewerage, colony roads, storm water drains etc. The builder can charge onetime cost from the owners for building such an infrastructure. Provision of last mile broadband infrastructure is a must and no completion certificate should be issued to the builders without this. DoT should take up this matter also with ministry of Urban Development for quick implementation.