New Delhi: India's telecom watchdog Tuesday issued a status paper on broadband speed, inviting comments from service providers on how could the speed of internet connectivity for subscribers be ensured as per prescribed norms. "Incidences have come to the notice of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) where service providers are using words like 'up to' to define broadband speed without indicating the minimum committed speed," the watchdog said. "The authority is of the view that there is a need to highlight the status of the speed of the broadband and accordingly this paper has been prepared," the regulator said in a statement. "Service providers have also been asked to bring to the notice of subscribers the definition of broadband while offering high-speed Internet connections," said the statement. Letters have already gone to service providers, it added. According to TRAI, some service providers were offering packages with Internet speed of less than 256 Kbps but marketing them as broadband connections, which was not in conformity with the prescribed norms. "While efforts are being made to ensure a minimum 256 Kbps speed for broadband connections, some stakeholders have suggested for raising the minimum speed of broadband connections," the regulator said. "It is expected that this status paper would clarify the issues and would help in appreciating the definition of broadband particularly in relation to speed." While agreeing that various countries and global organizations had defined the minimum prescribed speed for broadband connection differently, India's Broadband Policy of 2004 set the minimum speed at 256 Kbps. "The status paper has analysed broadband speed as defined in various countries, the prevailing environment and impact of growth of broadband on the economy of the country."

Luke from www.caelum-comms.co.uk said: 'With ever increasing demands for better and faster connection speeds, its imperative for businesses to ensure that they support and appropriate broadband services properly.'