Options for Broadband in India
Looking at all the commotion in the media about cheap broadband Internet access in India, I decided to get myself a broadband connection. I have been a dialup user since a long time and it sounded good to hear that I will get rid of all my huge dialup bills. I thought it would be easy to find a broadband provider around my locality, which is offering some good value for money packages considering the craze about broadband all around me. Since a broadband connection makes sense only if the speed is at least 128kbps (although going by the Government of India’s definition it should be minimum 256 kbps) and it is for unlimited use, I decided to check only the unlimited plans offered by various providers present in my area which were MTNL, Sify Broadband and Airtel. I would now discuss each plan I get to see one by one.
I started out with MTNL and I was amazed to see that they do not even have an unlimited plan for us users! What they have is a plan of Rs. 399, which allows you to download and upload only 400MB of data and that too at 256 kbps! Think of it as if you use the connection to full potential you can use it completely in around 4 hours! And they call it broadband! I was quite amazed. Next I moved on to the most talked about service in the media (for good or bad) Sify Broadband! They had some interesting packages to offer!
Unlimited 1 month 128 kbps for Rs. 995. However, the catch here is you cannot use it for more than 150 MB per day otherwise 1 day will be deducted from your validity period! That means you can use the connection at its full potential for just two hrs and 40 minutes to be exact per day! And it is called “Unlimitedâ€! Reason they give for that “preventing commercial useâ€. In fact, I read on a discussion forum that Sify Customer Support people responded that unlimited in these packages meant unlimited time duration and not data transfer limitations. Therefore, they expect me to remain online and do nothing so as to prevent a situation where I would download more than 150 Megs a day.
Similarly, another package of Night Unlimited 128 kbps and 256 kbps had the same so-called “Unlimited†tags to them but a daily limit of 150 MB attached! These limitations completely nullified any usability for me…
Here is another user review of the new Sify Broadband Packages…
So I decided to go to next provider namely, Airtel! Here is one provider, which is giving some Real Unlimited packages at:
64kbps Unlimited for Rs. 699/month
128kbps Unlimited for Rs. 999/month
And they do not have some unusual daily limits attached to them…
Considering all this, I think the word “Broadband†has not really been understood by the big bosses of all these companies or they simply are trying hard to ignore it! They seem to think (at least the first two mentioned above) that Indians need broadband for checking emails and chatting! It is disgusting to see such a scenario where the Government. Claims to be formulating a long-term policy on widespread internet penetration in the country. The issue is not only spreading internet but also spreading the advantages of internet! Emails and chatting are required but there are a whole lot of things to Internet other than these…
These opinions were submitted by Kamal Chopra who was looking for a Broadband Packages around his house to Broadband Blog on TechWhack.
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March 25th, 2005 at 08:13 am
Dear friend, I am surprised to read your article on Broadband. But I am pleased to write that I am from Mumbai and have Pacenet Broadband and paying 800 per month and it is really unlimited and has better speed but only problem with it is that it is provided through local cable operator who is not prompt in after sales service and fault repairing.So atleast one week per momth i do not get proper service.
March 25th, 2005 at 07:43 pm
Dear friend, I am surprised to read your article on Broadband. But I am pleased to write that I am from Mumbai and have Pacenet Broadband and paying 800 per month and it is really unlimited and has better speed but only problem with it is that it is provided through local cable operator who is not prompt in after sales service and fault repairing.So atleast one week per momth i do not get proper service.
March 26th, 2005 at 08:35 pm
I agree with the poor state of internet avaialbility for the domestic and official users.I’m getting unlimited package but its speed is awfully bad (<~32kbps)for Rs 665 per month by Touchnet in gurgaon.And the after sales service is also bad.
March 26th, 2005 at 08:36 pm
I agree with the poor state of internet availability for the domestic and official users.I’m getting unlimited package but its speed is awfully bad (<~32kbps)for Rs 665 per month by Touchnet in gurgaon.And the after sales service is also bad.
March 26th, 2005 at 08:39 pm
I agree with the poor state of internet availability for the domestic and official users.I’m getting unlimited package but its speed is awfully bad 32kbps for Rs 665 per month by Touchnet in gurgaon.And the after sales service is also bad.
March 27th, 2005 at 08:05 am
I agree with the poor state of internet avaialbility for the domestic and official users.I’m getting unlimited package but its speed is awfully bad (<~32kbps)for Rs 665 per month by Touchnet in gurgaon.And the after sales service is also bad.
March 27th, 2005 at 08:06 am
I agree with the poor state of internet availability for the domestic and official users.I’m getting unlimited package but its speed is awfully bad (<~32kbps)for Rs 665 per month by Touchnet in gurgaon.And the after sales service is also bad.
March 27th, 2005 at 08:09 am
I agree with the poor state of internet availability for the domestic and official users.I’m getting unlimited package but its speed is awfully bad 32kbps for Rs 665 per month by Touchnet in gurgaon.And the after sales service is also bad.
March 28th, 2005 at 01:50 am
Plz suggest me a better connection in devender vihar,AWHO,sector56,gurgaon.My number is 9899590492.
March 28th, 2005 at 01:20 pm
Plz suggest me a better connection in devender vihar,AWHO,sector56,gurgaon.My number is 9899590492.
April 14th, 2005 at 01:24 pm
Hello Sir,Madam:
I am looking for cheaper broadband services in Mumbai. Does anyone aware of cheapest broadband here in Mumbai ?
My requirements are:
Limited download say 50MB to 75MB/ month
But I want to go away with all the phone charges.
And I want to be always connected with Internet.
Any suggestions are welcome.
thank you.
regards,
Mukesh Pandya.
April 14th, 2005 at 02:54 am
Hello Sir,Madam:
I am looking for cheaper broadband services in Mumbai. Does anyone aware of cheapest broadband here in Mumbai ?
My requirements are:
Limited download say 50MB to 75MB/ month
But I want to go away with all the phone charges.
And I want to be always connected with Internet.
Any suggestions are welcome.
thank you.
regards,
Mukesh Pandya.
June 3rd, 2005 at 12:08 am
Hi! I am looking for Aseem Mishra (aka. Bobin)who grew up in Sambalpur Orissa and did his schooling in KV Sambalpur.I am trying to trace this old friend of mine for a long time. Anyone who has any contact details please email me to satya_shines@yahoo.com. Many Thanks Satya Prakash
June 2nd, 2005 at 01:38 pm
Hi! I am looking for Aseem Mishra (aka. Bobin)who grew up in Sambalpur Orissa and did his schooling in KV Sambalpur.I am trying to trace this old friend of mine for a long time. Anyone who has any contact details please email me to satya_shines@yahoo.com. Many Thanks Satya Prakash
September 20th, 2005 at 03:01 pm
I am still searching for a good ISP in Mumbai. So far I can tell you to stay away from Sify. My service is through Spearhead. It is absolutely pathetic! I have never ever had such lousy connectivity. I signed up for the 256 kbps connection. In the 4 weeks I have had them, the maximum length of continuous connectivity I got was 4 hours. Customer service is happy to politely take your complaint and give canned responses like “our technical staff is looking into the problem and by tomorrow it should be fixed” Tomorrow???? What is this???? Yeesh! After four weeks of trying my patience and giving them every opportunity to fix these issues, I have decided to look elsewhere. I just hope I can get my 3795 connection fees back from these thieves.
September 20th, 2005 at 04:31 am
I am still searching for a good ISP in Mumbai. So far I can tell you to stay away from Sify. My service is through Spearhead. It is absolutely pathetic! I have never ever had such lousy connectivity. I signed up for the 256 kbps connection. In the 4 weeks I have had them, the maximum length of continuous connectivity I got was 4 hours. Customer service is happy to politely take your complaint and give canned responses like “our technical staff is looking into the problem and by tomorrow it should be fixed” Tomorrow???? What is this???? Yeesh! After four weeks of trying my patience and giving them every opportunity to fix these issues, I have decided to look elsewhere. I just hope I can get my 3795 connection fees back from these thieves.
October 18th, 2005 at 09:13 pm
hi,
my name is amrita and i will be shifting residence to sector 48-49, southend in gurgaon end of this month (october 2005). presently i am staying in delhi and i have an internet connection from airtel – 56kbps speed, unlimited download and access and i pay a fixed amount of rs. 770/- per month. i am very impressed with the service but unfortunately airtel does not yet have their service in the sector to which i am shifting. i need an internet connection, can you please let me know if sify has its service there?
thanks,
amrita dutta
October 18th, 2005 at 10:43 am
hi,
my name is amrita and i will be shifting residence to sector 48-49, southend in gurgaon end of this month (october 2005). presently i am staying in delhi and i have an internet connection from airtel – 56kbps speed, unlimited download and access and i pay a fixed amount of rs. 770/- per month. i am very impressed with the service but unfortunately airtel does not yet have their service in the sector to which i am shifting. i need an internet connection, can you please let me know if sify has its service there?
thanks,
amrita dutta
November 5th, 2005 at 09:29 am
hi, i am looking for a unlimited (no limitations for per day) internet connection in chennai. Speed should be 128 kbps or more. please contact me if a good deal is available.Thank you
November 5th, 2005 at 08:59 pm
hi, i am looking for a unlimited (no limitations for per day) internet connection in chennai. Speed should be 128 kbps or more. please contact me if a good deal is available.Thank you
November 18th, 2005 at 02:08 am
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November 18th, 2005 at 01:38 pm
Hi i am looking for Domain Registration, Hosting and Designing for my upcoming site so i get url http://www.saarthi.net. Web Designing, Personal E-Mail Solution. Saarthi Software Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
December 26th, 2005 at 07:57 am
Hi,
I have MTNL broadband (Triband) in Mumbai, Andheri W. When the connection was launched, the speed was excellent and no service problems faced as such. Now, after around 6 months of usage, the speeds have fallen to around 12Kbps. As far as I am aware it would not even qualify to be called broadband. On lodging a complaint, the reply given is that my flat distance from the hub is a lot that is why the speeds are slow. (Although, from the time i have taken the connection, neither me nor the MTNL exchange has shifted).
December 26th, 2005 at 07:27 pm
Hi,
I have MTNL broadband (Triband) in Mumbai, Andheri W. When the connection was launched, the speed was excellent and no service problems faced as such. Now, after around 6 months of usage, the speeds have fallen to around 12Kbps. As far as I am aware it would not even qualify to be called broadband. On lodging a complaint, the reply given is that my flat distance from the hub is a lot that is why the speeds are slow. (Although, from the time i have taken the connection, neither me nor the MTNL exchange has shifted).
February 2nd, 2006 at 03:14 am
Err…. guys, anybody been on reliance site lately?????
600kbps anytime + 350Mb pm = Rs.300
Plus all fiber optic and LAN access..
Also, chk MTNL site.. they r giving more Mbs pm
February 2nd, 2006 at 02:44 pm
Err…. guys, anybody been on reliance site lately?????
600kbps anytime + 350Mb pm = Rs.300
Plus all fiber optic and LAN access..
Also, chk MTNL site.. they r giving more Mbs pm
October 27th, 2007 at 11:26 pm
The broadband plans in Gurgaon are still crap – 2 years on from this review. I have a 2mbps connection that actually gives me a download speed of 380kbps…. (Airtel)
October 27th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
The broadband plans in Gurgaon are still crap – 2 years on from this review. I have a 2mbps connection that actually gives me a download speed of 380kbps…. (Airtel)