This can be pretty interesting!

All fixed line operators will have to share their last mile copper infrastructure, which are over five years old, with other service providers. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has come out with 12 broad recommendations in order to increase the Internet and broadband penetration in the country which include methods to be adopted for unbundling local loop, fiscal measures and other policy initiatives.

To start with, if the recommendations are accepted, the fixed line operators have to specifically choose between the two methods of unbundling shared unbundling and bit stream access. They also have to suggest the terms and conditions like pricing for unbundling, which will be reviewed by TRAI.

In simple words, local loop unbundling is the method as per which the owners of the last mile copper (primarily the incumbent) are usually mandated to share their infrastructure with other licensed service providers wanting to provide broadband services.

Under shared unbundling, competitive providers have access to either voice or data portion of the line. Under bit stream access, the local loop operator installs high speed access links to its customers and allows competitive providers access to this link.

More: ZDNet India

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