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Trai to government: liberalise broadband norms
NEW DELHI: Concerned about slow uptake of broadband in the country, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) today suggested that the government review some of the norms, especially those relating to last mile access by lessening state-controlled organizations monopoly.
Fazed by broadband penetration numbers — slightly over half a million broadband connections against the targeted three million by the end of 2005 — Trai today recommended to the department of telecom the following:
# Accept an earlier recommendation on unbundling the local loop or last mile access.
# Reconsider other fiscal measures like tax concessions for broadband equipment and services.
The aforementioned suggestions by Trai, amongst some others like allowing DTH service providers to offer two-way services like satellite delivered broadband Internet, had not been accepted by the Indian government when it announced the New Broadband Policy in 2004
According to the regulator, the suggestions had been made to give a fillip to the growth of Internet and broadband in India.
As per the Broadband Policy issued by the government, a target of three million subscriber base was to be achieved by all the service providers together by the end of year 2005.
Half of this target was to be met by public sector undertakings (PSU) or government-controlled organizations like Mahanagar Telecom Nigam Ltd (MTNL) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam LTD (BSNL), which is Indias largest telecom company in terms of infrastructure and reach.
Trai has said that progress reports submitted by various service providers suggest there are only 0.61 million broadband subscribers end September.
Out of this, only 0.26 million subscribers belong to PSUs, while 0.35 million subscribers are serviced by private sector companies.
Hence the actual achievement by various operators together is much below the policy target of three million for December 2005, which is likely to be missed,Trai said in a letter shot off to the government today, indicating that more de-control and financial incentives are needed.
Local loop or last mile access can be defined as the copper line or fibre connecting the local node to homes or the line that enters a subscribers home from a pole.
At the moment, BSNL and MTNL own majority share — in a monopoly situation almost — of last mile access in Indian cities and towns for historical reasons as they have been providing fixed line telephony to Indian homes from the time when private players had not even entered the Indian telecom market.
According to Trai, many of the competitive service providers have mentioned that the broadband penetration target would be difficult to achieve unless incumbents government-mandated monopoly is broken, allowing private players
to at least use that infrastructure to deliver various services, including broadband.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
