Date:26/09/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/09/26/stories/2005092601210200.htm

Back ISPs want unbundling of last mile connectivity

Our Bureau

Hyderabad , Sept 25

THE Internet Service Providers Association of India (ISPAI) plans to train its attention on some major regulatory concerns including unbundling the last mile connectivity, broadband and virtual private network (VPN) and related issues.

The association which met here chose Mr Sanjay Dwivedi of Spectranet as President, Mr D.P. Vaidya of Hughes as Vice-President and re-nominated Mr Deepak Maheshwari of Sify as Secretary.

Speaking to newspersons after the meeting, ISPAI members said "if the Government were to achieve the target of 20 million broadband users and 40 million Internet users by 2010, a collective effort was necessary and this called for unbundling the last mile."

They said they were willing to meet the necessary capital expenditure and work out an appropriate revenue sharing model on the last mile issues even while ensuring that the incumbent telecom operators do not lose out.

The recent regulation with regard to Virtual Private Network based service would possibly clip about Rs 350 crore in total revenues, they contended.