New broadband definition highlights the plight of India’s barely connected “grey spots”

Source: The post is based on the article “New broadband definition highlights the plight of India’s barely connected grey spots” published in The Hindu on 13th February 2023.

What is the News?

Recently, the definition of broadband was upgraded to mandate a minimum speed of 2Mbps. But telecom companies rarely prioritize the connectivity of users in small towns with a few overloaded towers.

What are White and Grey spots?

Places without cellular connectivity at all are called “white spots”. 

Places which show simply being “connected” but may not let users get enough out of their access are called “Grey Spots”.

What is the definition of Broadband?

The Government of India has revised the definition of broadband connectivity. 

As per the new definition, Broadband is a data connection that is able to support interactive services, including internet access and has the capability of the minimum download speed of 2 Mbps to an individual subscriber from the point of presence (POP) of the service provider intending to provide broadband service.

This means that the definition of broadband connectivity now requires a minimum download speed of 2 Mbps (megabits per second). 

Note: Earlier, the minimum download speed was previously 512 kbps (kilobits per second).