Indian mobile operators will need to be able to deliver minimum advertised download speeds for at least 80% of the time, under new regulations coming into effect next month.
A directive from regulator TRAI stipulates that operators will need to indicate the minimum speed available to consumers for all wireless data plans, the Hindustan Timesreported.
These minimum speeds will need to be delivered for at least 80% of “usage time,” the directive states.
The new QoS regulation will take effect on August 23. It will apply to both mobile and dongle-based wireless plans.
According to the report, operators' self-reported minimum 3G download speeds range from just 399 kbps to 2.48 Mbps. But the 3G plans are often advertised by their maximum speeds - up to 21 Mbps per second, depending on the technology.
A speed of 399 kbps is below the below the threshold for broadband speeds stipulated by TRAI, which is 512 kbps.
The regulator has also previously expressed a belief that 3G services should deliver speeds of at least 1 Mbps for at least 95% of the time.