Minimum broadband speed may be raised four times

NEW DELHI: Tired of poor broadband speed and painfully slow downloads? That's about to change soon, with the Centre looking to mandate a four-fold increase in the minimum broadband speed — from 512 kbps (kilobits per second) to 2 mbps (megabits per second).

"I propose to take up the matter with the communications ministry," IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said. "We will consider laying down a policy for increasing the minimum broadband speed from the current levels."


The thriving start-up eco-system across India and delivery of a variety of consumer services through mobile phone apps, including online retail, taxis and social media, are among the reasons that have led to the push for upgrading the minimum internet speed on wire and wireless networks.