We live in an era of broadband connectivity, or do we? While other countries have long since disappeared in the double digits when it comes to broadband penetration in India is far behind. Last year we had to face Abyssal 0.2 percent penetration and the scene has not changed radically since then. In striking contrast to the United States had more than 50 per cent (53 per cent according to the latest report) in Q4 2006 and this figure from the United States was the lowest among the 25 best in the world. In other words, there are 25 countries where broadband penetration above 50 percent and a dozen summits where the figure was 60 percent.
So why is it that broadband is a failure in this country? Is it the lack of demand? Is this because there are not enough online content in local languages? The answers to these questions are a resounding "no" to the first and most qualified "Yes" to the second. There are a lot of demand, pent I might add, for broadband and while the lack of content in vernacular is a cause for concern, it is not a show stopper.
So what prevents it from entering the broadband single, forget double figures? The answer my friend is in the wind, the devil, he is shouting into a wind of indifference on the part of ISP. Why is it that even now, after all the ballyhooing about how fiber has been installed at each office building in every city worth naming, the first reaction of any ISP if asked for a broadband connection is too often they are out of ports? Or that your town is not served? Go wireless and you will still encounter a solid wall of disinterest. Most cellular providers have not only ridiculous bandwidth caps, but their support is nonexistent. If I had a bill for a hundred rupees each time I raced against the support staff of a company cell phone to make a stupid suggestion of having to call another line as they need me to put my phone on and off to get GPRS working, I would have at least enough money for a meal at a five star.
So what is the answer to this mess? On the one hand, ISPs, especially incumbents who have the coverage area needs to wake up to two facts that people want broadband and they must do away with caps on download plans entry range. availability across the city by DSL or WiMAX or other-else-they-can-come-with-up must be given. If an ISP is not ready to serve all areas to remove their licenses. Internet access can be denied. It can be a fundamental right but it is essential if we want to compete in this information age.
On the same subject, I think the 3G, as and when it happens, will fall flat on its face with a loud noise in India. The fact that people will be deploying the same geniuses who charge Rs 10 per MB downloaded and make threatening calls when you exceed your limit post-paid, even if you have an excess of 1 GB can not believe a door they will do better with 3G than they have done with 2.5G. ISPs are bad, but cellular providers are worse. A bit like the stove and the fire.