NEW DELHI: Telecom regulator Trai Chairman R S Sharma today said broadband connectivity to 500 million people can be priovided in a short span of time by leveraging digital cable TV network.
"We have made a number of recommendation and our recommendations if followed could transform our ranking which is abysmally low," Sharma said at Skoch Summit.
He said that there are 100 million homes in India connected with digital cable TV.
"The cable TV connection will become digital. If you have 100 million homes where you take this digital. These 100 million homes with same pipe with little bit of upgradation can be used for delivery of robust broadband connectivity," Sharma said.
He said that recommendation in this regard has been sent by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.
"We have been following it with the Department of Telecom and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Yesterday that pipe was used for providing cable TV service, it can now also transfer bits and bytes. That can immediately provide connectivity to 500 million people," Sharma said.
He said that an average cable TV home is estimated to have five members.
Wireless or mobile broadband subscriber in September grew by was 173.87 million and fixed line broadband connections were at 17.84 million. Government under National Telecom Policy 2012 has set target to connect 600 million people by the year 2020 at minimum 2 Mbps download speed.