Broadband
Plan panel puts rural thrust in broadband plan
NEW DELHI: Allow full triple play to all rural broadband service provider; throw in some tax sops and ensure development of appropriate content in regional languages.
These are some of the ingredients that a Planning Commission committee, studying the development and expansion of information and communication technology (ICT), would like to have in the recipe for a nationwide rollout of broadband services in the country. Especially with a focus on the rural market.
“To effect the (nationwide) rollout, we need to light up the optical fibre and ensure development of the last mile connectivity,” a Planning Commission panel in a draft report on communications, including ICT connectivity, has observed.
Planning Commission is a government think-tank on economic policies and had set up the ICT panel last year with a view to build a modern and efficient telecommunication infrastructure to meet the convergence of telecom, IT and the media.
According to the draft note — a copy of which is available with indiantelevision.com — circulated amongst members and some other government organisation, for a cost-effective and quick broadband rollout “wireless technology seems to be more suited.”
The plan panel draft paper also suggests that appropriate spectrum should be delicenced, including the 5.15-5.35 Ghz for Wi-fi and Wi max technology.
Amongst other measures being discussed by Planning Commission as part of its mid-term review of the 10th Five-Year Plan of the telecom ICT sector, which focuses more on rural spread out, following initiatives have been highlighted: As existing service providers may not be interested in rural areas, the future model for operations may have to be based on the one suggested in the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), which includes niche players being either franchisees of the incumbent (state-controlled Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. being the dominant player) or independent operators registered with the government.
Providing necessary support from the Universal Service Obligation (USO) fund if needed for sharing part of the capital cost and bearing costs of bandwidth for the initial five years period. Providing matching funds for USO Fund to rural youth to set up broadband kiosk along with arranging concessional funds from banks. Using post offices as retail outlets for broadband kiosks/service delivery points keeping in view the countrywide reach of the Indian postal network. To attract operators, the entry and service conditions have to be promotional. The need for finalizing a legal, institutional and regulatory modalities of opening up of broadband services in rural areas quickly has been emphasized upon too.
Broadband
ACT Fibernet elevates Aditya Singh to chief customer experience officer
Former senior vp to drive service, retention and delivery revamp
BENGALURU: ACT Fibernet has elevated Aditya Singh to chief customer experience officer, effective 1 January, 2026, as the broadband provider seeks to tighten its grip on service quality in an increasingly competitive market.
Singh, who previously served as senior vice-president – customer experience and loyalty at group level, will now join the executive committee and lead the company’s end-to-end customer transformation agenda.
The move gives him oversight of customer service, customer retention and service delivery, alongside a broader mandate to strengthen network resilience and field operations. The company said the reshuffle underlines its intent to deliver a “consistent, seamless and superior” experience to its 2.3m subscribers across more than 30 cities.
Headquartered in Bengaluru, ACT Fibernet, the consumer-facing brand of Atria Convergence Technologies Limited, is one of India’s largest wired internet service providers. It has built its pitch on high-speed connectivity and responsive customer support, at a time when fibre roll-outs and price wars are redrawing the broadband map.
In a statement, Singh said he was “deeply honoured” to take on the expanded brief and join the executive committee as the company sharpens its focus on simplifying customer touchpoints and turning subscribers into brand advocates.
The elevation signals a clear priority: in a crowded fibre market, customer experience is fast becoming the decisive battleground.
