BANGALORE: Internet connections would increase from 5.45 million in December 2004 to 18 million by 2007. By this time, broadband connection is targeted to touch nine million, according to communications and IT minsiter Dayanidhi Maran.

Inaugurating a mobile manufacturing facility of Elcoteq in the city,Maran claimed that BSNL's Data-One service had performed above expectations in the market.

"The present demand for BSNL's broadband Data-One service is in excess of 180,000, far more than envisaged when we launched this. However I've been promised that by the end of this month the waiting list will be cleared," he said.

Speaking on making BSNL cell phone connections available for Cell-One subscribers, Maran said, he had committed to complete the process within six months.

Dwelling on the progress the telecom industry is making, Maran said the target was 250 million landline connections in the next three years. "This will help achieve a tele-density of around 22 per cent. Of the projected new 150 million lines, around 75-80 million connections will be provided by BSNL," he said.

Regarding the present spectrum policy, Maran said that it would take care of the 3G issues. "It was up to the private operators to roll out their plans relating to 3G . MTNL has already called for tenders for 3G networks. Trai would be consulted on any further issues with spectrum allocation as they would be coming out with a policy on this," he said.

Maran also informed that Nokia would open their manufacturing facility in Chennai in nine months.