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The Evolution of Broadband in Kerala: From Dial-Up to High-Speed Internet

Just like in other parts of the country, internet deployment and usage has undergone a massive evolution since the last century in Kerala. What started as the humble dial-up connection has now transitioned to high-speed internet.

Here’s a stepwise look at the journey of broadband in Kerala:

Dial-up connections

In its nascent stages, internet users needed a telephone line and a modem to access internet services. Known as dial-up internet, the data transfers were limited and speeds ranged from 56-128Kbps. Hence, bandwidth-intensive activities were quite restricted.

Broadband internet

Advances in technology led to the advent of broadband internet in Kerala. Broadband services were initially delivered through DSL technology (Digital Subscriber Line) using telephone lines to deliver faster and more reliable speeds of up to 10-20Mbps.

Cable broadband

The DSL broadband further evolved into the Cable internet. It involved linking with the TV cable infrastructure for high-speed internet delivery. Its an improvement over the DSL technology and delivers faster speeds of over 100Mbps, depending on the subscribed package.

Fiberoptic broadband

The fiberoptic technology provides broadband connectivity through the use of optical fibers which provide access to much higher speeds of 100Mbps to 1Gbps and above, along with lower latencies. This technology has revolutionized broadband in Kerala as it enables high-definition video-conferencing, lag-free online gaming and other data-intensive applications.

Mobile broadband

The high-speed 4G and 5G broadband networks have meant greater usage of internet over mobile devices. The ongoing expansion of 5G and the existing 4G LTE technology have meant that mobile users can browse the internet, use data-intensive apps and stream videos at higher speeds with minimal latency. The advent of 5G technology is a further improvement on the 4G LTE mobile broadband.

The evolution of broadband in Kerala has been fueled by an increasing demand for high-speed and lag-free internet, spurred by greater dependence on online activities. Advancements in technology have also meant that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have likewise upgraded their infrastructure to deliver faster and more reliable internet connectivity across the digital space. Improvement in customer services and consumer-centric plans and packages are some of the other facilities being offered.

Overall, the broadband evolution in Kerala has empowered individuals and businesses alike, enabling greater socio-economic development.