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TRAI to set basic download speed

Telecom regulator plans to prescribe minimum download speed for all telecom companies
New Delhi: Cracking whip on the telecom players, telecom regulator is all set to prescribe a minimum broadband speed to be provided by operators to their mobile and wireless subscribers.
For 2G (GSM), Trai is looking at prescribing 56 kbps as the minimum speed and 1 mbps with 95 per cent success rate for 3G (GSM). As far as CDMA HSD is considered, Trai is planning a minimum speed at 512 kbps with 95 per cent success rate and for CDMA EVDO a minimum speed for 1 mbps with 95 per cent success rate.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has come out with a consultation paper on the issue.
The move comes in the wake of several complaints from the subscribers regarding poor download speed.
After examining the issue, the regulator felt that there is a need to mandate a “minimum download speed” for the wireless data services provided through various wireless technologies, so as to protect the interest of consumers.
Trai monitored the “minimum download speed” reported by the telecom service providers for each data plan since last three quarters. The telecom regulator noted that the minimum download speed is not uniform across all licensed service areas (LSAs).
Trai found that for the 2G technology, the speed varies from 21.42 kbps to 97.06 kbps between the operators.
Also most telecom consumers availing wireless data services are not aware of the minimum download speed being offered to them by the telecom service providers.
Generally, the tariff plans offered by the operators are based on the volume of data usage for various technologies , without any clarity about the speed being offered to consumers.
Trai found that there was no commitment of minimum download speed while offering a tariff plan by the mobile operators.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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