Spectranet to offer high-speed broadband data at low rate

To offer 100 mbps speed and unlimited data for about Rs 1,200 per month

Upping the ante in the broadband market, internet service provider Spectranet is planning to provide fixed line broadband connection with 100 mbps speed and unlimited data for about Rs 1,200 per month.

"Our goal is to provide world class broadband service to urban centres in India. Though we are for profit organisation, we want to focus on making impact in life of people. As part of our strategy, we will provide 100 mbps broadband speed with no data download cap to all our customers within a year," Spectranet CEO Udit Mehrotra told PTI.

At present, telecom companies offer fixed line broadband connection with a speed of 40-50 mbps at minimum cost of about Rs 3,000 per month. These high-end plans have download limit of up to 300 GB for domestic users.

Spectranet has already started a 3-month trial offer with 100 mbps broadband speed in Gurgaon at Rs 1,199 with no download limit.

"We will have similar plans on other places where we are at present like that being offered in Gurgaon. It will be launched in phases at all places in about a year," Mehrotra said.

Spectranet currently operates in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune and Mumbai.

The company was previously focusing on business from corporate connections but during the last three years, it has expanded its business to include domestic connections as well.

"We want people to enjoy services like Netflix, use smart TV features which has in built YouTube. Products are available but people are unable to use it because of non-availability of good quality broadband. In US, minimum broadband speed is 25 mbps. We want to bring our customers at par with the global broadband users," Mehrotra said.

At present the company claims to have 50,000 domestic customers and about 4,000 corporate ones using its services.

"In the next 4-5 years, we want to expand our services in cities where we are present. We are targeting to cover 25-30 per cent of city homes.

"At present, we reach out to 4-5 per cent homes. Each city has an average of about 15-16 million homes. From this, you can estimate our present reach," he added.