BSNL To Offer Lightning Fast Internet Speeds

In a move to provide lightning fast internet speeds to broadband users, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), state-run telecom firm has introduced the 'fibre to the home' (FTTH) service. The service is being started in the city of Pune and BSNL plans to make it available to around 1,000 customers by the end of December.

With the service, BSNL will provide amazingly fast broadband speeds of up to 100 Mbps. The cheapest unlimited plan offered by BSNL provides the customer with 1Mpbs of internet speed and costs Rs 2,999 (for a month), while the costliest plan offers speeds up to 100Mbps and costs Rs 83,999 (for a month).

"A couple of connections were activated in the city in the last few months on a pilot basis. After studying its performance, BSNL has decided to float the services on a commercial basis," said V K Mahendra, principal general manager of BSNL Pune, according to The Times of India.

BSNL is already the leading broadband service provider in the city and commands more than 80 per cent share of the broadband service (with mmore than 1.25 lakh customers). But due to the high price tag that will definitely come attached with the service, BSNL will most probably target high-end customers who require fast internet speeds.

"The FTTH service will be provided through optical fibre cables using the 'gigabit-capable passive optical network' (GPON). This will enable high speed downloading and uploading. Hence, customers will get speed in addition to the existing broadband," added Mahendra.

The company has already identified key locations (all these areas have optical fibre networks) in the city where the service can be introduced and BSNL could further discuss the scheme of installing optical fibre networks inside building structures with the builders in the city.

Additional services like VoIP, IPTV, cable TV, video on demand, gaming among others can also be provided on the FTTH. Just recently BSNL had launched its very own applications store called the 'BSNL Apps Store'. The store is available to all BSNL mobile (2G & 3G) customers (having GPRS facility) across India and offers a selection of more than 4,500 apps.