Business / BSNL launches Bharat Fiber FTTH service in reply to Jio GigaFiber, Airtel V-Fiber

BSNL once said that it would match Jio tariff-by-tariff but it seems that it now plans to compete with the company product-by-product as well. The state-owned telecom company is set to take on Jio GigaFiber and Airtel V-Fiber by launching its high-speed fibre-based broadband services called the Bharat Fiber. Bharat Fiber will offer high speed data and WiFi connectivity to the subscribers.

"We realise that now customers are demanding super fast internet and have started owning more electronic gadgets and entertainment tools than ever before. So our Fiber to the Home technology has been upgraded and we are happy to announce the launch of Bharat Fiber which will be an affordable yet able to meet the huge data demand of our customers," said Vivek Banzal, director of CFA, BSNL Board in the press statement.

Bharat Fiber will offer high speed data and WiFi connectivity to the subscribers. The company under the service will offer data downloads as much as 35GB per day prices as low as Rs 1.1per GB. The bookings for the Bharat Fiber have already begun on BSNL portal.

Bharat Fiber is BSNL's first-ever FTTH service that offers the high speed broadband from 256 Kbps to 100 Mbps, IPTV having different type of contents like HDTV and future coming 3D TV and range of voice telephony services. BSNL describes Bharat Fiber as the "comprehensive solution for the IP leased line, internet, Closed User Group (CUG), MPLS-VPN, VoIP, video conferencing, video calls etc whatever the services available on the internet platform."

Subscribers opting for Bharat Fiber will get a modem called Home Optical Network Termination (HONT) with 4 Ethernet ports each of 100Mbps and 2 normal telephone ports. Each 100 Mbps ports will provide broadband, IPTVs, IP Video call and leased line etc as required by the customers. BSNL is also giving a power back unit having full load backup of four hours and normal backup of three days along with the HONT.BSNL will extend fibre from its nearest Central Office (CO) location directly or through franchisee and install HONT and battery backup at the customers locations.

Bharat Fiber users will be able to enjoy internet services such as TV over IP Service (MPEG2), Video on Demand (VoD)(MPEG4) play like VCR, Audio on Demand Service, Bandwidth on Demand (User and or service configurable), Remote Education, Point to Point and Point to Multi Point Video Conferencing, virtual classroom, Voice and Video Telephony over IP: Connection under control of centrally located soft switches, Interactive Gaming, VPN on broadband, Dial up VPN Service and virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) over the FTTH service.

There is no activation or installation charge for the service. User needs to pay Rs 500 as one time security deposit for the Optical Network Terminal (ONT) which is refundable on return of the ONT in working condition. The ONT charges when taken on rent is Rs 90 per month and Rs 1080 per annum. This is if you take only the ONT. ONT along with ADSL WiFi modem charges will cost Rs 200 per month and a refundable security deposit of Rs 1500. Any DSL Broadband plan worth Rs 375 and above is applicable on Bharat Fiber (FTTH).