Broadband

According to figures released by the TRAI, VSNL/Tata Indicom has been steadily losing subscribers to other ISPs. With a loss of 24% of its subscriber base in the quarter ending March 2005, and a further loss of 9% in the quarter ending June 2005, VSNL's share has now slipped down to a measly 10.88%.

Summarised figures of the top five ISPs (quarter ending June 2005) were reported as follows:

Total Internet subscriber base: 5.9 million
The above figures include all modes of Internet access.

The Indian government in its 2004 broadband policy targeted a 3 million broadband subscriber base by the end of 2005. The ISPAI has now stated that India will fall (woefully) short of that target by over 2 million, and that, according to the ISPAI secretary, is apparently an optimistic estimate.

Complete story: Financial Express.

VSNL has filed a petition before the TDSAT opposing the TRAI's decision to reduce bandwidth tariff on its (and others) IPLC charges. VSNL has claimed that the TRAI which based its decision on a study conducted by Ernst & Young, has selectively used data to show the current Indian IPLC market in poor light, and has not made an accurate assessment of the current market status. According to VSNL, all is well in the Indian bandwidth industry, where it controls close to 80% of the market.

ZDNet India is running a story on BSNL's new offer to its broadband subscribers - a branded PC bundled with the connection, and payable in easy installments via the monthly phone bill.

While thus far, BSNL was content to refer it's customers to HCL, it has now also entered into a tie-up with Kolkata based Xenitis (of Apna/Aamar/Namma PC fame), which offers PCs at prices under Rs.10000. With the estimated monthly installment for the HCL PC set at Rs.400 per month, getting a computer with a broadband connection will now cost within the highly affordable bracket of Rs.650 (and lesser) per month.