National Broadband Policy may redefine speed criteria

The Department of Telecom (DoT) plans to introduce a National Broadband Policy aiming to classify broadband internet as a basic right alongside education and health, as reported by The Economic Times. This follows TRAI’s recent efforts to set minimum download speeds for 3G and 2G connections and redefine broadband speed criteria. The policy seeks to enhance broadband penetration by consolidating various communication platforms, currently managed by different departments, under the DoT’s control. It proposes provisions for providing affordable broadband equipment and devices for end-consumer use.