Allow broadband on DTH, VSAT: govt panel

"NEW DELHI, DEC 6: A high-powered inter-ministerial committee has recommended that DTH and VSAT operators be allowed to offer wireless broadband for a much faster, especially in rural areas, using satellites. The committee has said that suitable regulatory and policy initiatives be devised for permitting VSATs and DTH operators to provide broadband connections.

The move will benefit DTH service providers Tata Sky and Zee group’s Dish TV. Anil Ambani-controlled Reliance Dhirubhai Ambani has also announced a DTH venture while communications and IT minister Dayanidhi Maran’s brother Kalanithi Maran has plans to launch a DTH service under the Sun TV network. " here

we think the move to allow net access through DTH could do more for rural connectivity than all previous and future govt. efforts put together. imagine getting connected to the net anywhere and having access to net based telephone service like vonage or free ones like skype.

freemarkets are not just about free movement of good and services but govt. remaining technologically neutral to allow unhindered flow of technology for the benefit of humanity.

ps: a friend of ours says SKY TV in UK offers unlimited broadband for ten pounds a month (about rs 850) at speeds of 2 mbps! cheaper than airtel and bsnl 256 kbps connection here in india.