Tags: Sify Broadband

Hmm… Looks like I was being an ass claiming my sify gives me speeds close to 5-6 KBps. Its apparently down to 2-3 (even 1-2 sometimes) KBps today…

I recently read in a magazine that TRAI has defined the minimum speed of an internet connection that can be considered as Broadband as 256 Kbps. The exact words are:

Broadband is an “An always-on data connection that is able to support various interactive services, and has the capability of a minimum download speed of 256 Kbps.”

Now, if we take my favorite case study (ie Sify Broadband) into consideration, they have the following speed connections:

1. 1 package of 32Kbps
2. 6 packages of 64Kbps
3. 4 packages of 128Kbps
4. 3 packages of 256 Kbps
5. and 3 shared connections (that I last heard was a 48Kbps line divided between 3 users coming out to be 16Kbps per user. I can testify the max speed as I get max speeds of 4-5 KBps on my shared line which is just about the specified speeds.

Now what does this means? Sify is simply mocking the concept of broadband! TRAI defines technology specifications but fails to implement it! What in the end consumers get? He is confused with what the local guy tells him. He pays what he is told to pay. And the middle men are the ones who talk a major chunk of the cake.

What should have happened?
TRAI in addition to have just defined Broadband should have told all the so called Broadband operators to apply the concept. Accepted I pay 600 bucks to stay connected to the net 24×7 (not exactly, as there are frequent downtimes) but if it comes labeled as broadband, it should at least touch the bare minimum.