BSNL Broadband- A fraud?

BSNL, Broadband News, India Broadband News, Personal Experiences October 2nd, 2005

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading ... Loading ...

BSNL Broadband- A fraud?

The text of my email to various newspapers and news channels- hopefully, someone would pick it up. It is too demeaning to suffer at BSNL’s hands. Let us hope for the best. Unfortunately, it has not been highlighted in the media over the past few months. There are major inconsistencies, which have not been noticed at all.

There was a major controversy over the fact that Huawei has been able to supply the telecom equipment for the lowest prices. It is widely believed that in part, it has been subsidized by the Chinese Government. In any case, Huawei, based in Bangalore, has been in the thick of the storm over alleged espionage activities.

BSNL broadband under DataOne gives a contention ratio of 1:50. This means that the same connection is spread among 50 users- assuming the fact that not all 50 users would log on at the same time. While advertising for speeds of 256 kbps (and not UPTO 256 kbps), BSNL’s action tantamount to cheating its consumers. It is by no means a coincidence that despite the promised 32KB/s, I am only getting up to 5-8KB/s throughout the day. 1KB/s (Kilobyte) equals 8kbps or 8 kilobits per second.

The biggest hassle is the download limit of 1 GB (roughly equals to 1000MB). Despite its claims on the official website, 1 GB is not clearly sufficient even for an average user. Would anyone care to ask BSNL that why it consistently logs in upload and download data in its server logs? To me, it beats the rationale to install expensive billing servers, rather than provide cheaper services.

BSNL charges Rs 1.20p for every excess 1 MB downloaded. However, by current estimates, it costs them less than 30p per MB. Thus, a markup of almost 400% this is indeed usurious. Nowhere in the world, would a telecom company be allowed to loot customers in such a blatant manner. The actual costs, as back of the envelope calculations are concerned would be roughly Rs 1320(including service tax of about 10%) for excess 1000 MB download- excluding the regular phone bills. This means that BSNL is clearly curtailing the cost of the access while pricing it overtly steep for ordinary consumers like me. This beats the advertising price tag of Rs.250 monthly rental. This plan incidentally gives only 400 MB as free usage- given that BSNL is assiduous about measuring every byte, it would expire within hours of heavy usage.

Since BSNL is the only pan Indian player in the market, consumers are forced to use its services. Reason being that dial up services are far more expensive. Adding salt to our wounds, it is often equated with WORLD WIDE WAIT- with pathetic services to boot. Hence, this qualifies for a perfect case of abuse of monopoly and dominant position in the market.

I complained to Competitive Commission of India on this account- they flatly refused to charge claiming that the provisions of the act were not notified yet. My mails to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India bounced back- that too from the email address taken from their website. I took my complaint to Department of Public Grievances- so far there has no word from them either. My previous experience with BSNL has not been sweet either- I realize the fact that repeated mails go unanswered.

Frankly, this qualifies for a class action suit against the telecom company, who is sparing no efforts to stem the flood of disconnections. ADSL or DataOne is widely perceived to be a “value added service” and no more.

I am reaching out to you in the hope that you would look in this matter and initiate investigations in the same. The power of media cannot be underestimated; for me it would be satisfying enough to see the authorities accepting their guilt.

BSNL has been set up with huge public funds- over the past 50 years; it has operated as means of government largesse. As ordinary consumers, we have not had any say at all. It is much vaunted rural telephony plans have not really matured (the private telecom operators are no saints either- the government has not forced them to honor their rural telephony obligations either- instead they are reducing the license fees only because it helps to lower the operators costs!). Why is BSNL extracting its pound of flesh? This is clearly not done- how would anyone explain its Rs. 5000 crore profits?

Is there no end to greed?

Tags: ,

Leave a comment Comment RSS | | Author: Abhishek | AddThis Feed Button


Previous: Google’s googly on Wi-Fi
Next: Using ‘Broadband’ in India

Related Posts

BSNL- Highhandedness

Why BSNL Broadband is not revolutionary?

VSNL sinking ship?

Review of BSNL Broadband

BSNL doing a Vodafone as it revamps the brand names

Viewing 76 Comments

    • ^
    • v
    Hats off for the bold comments.
    While the entire world is flying high and high with the astonishing infrastructure developments, we indians claim we are building the second silicon valley amidst some every-day sad stories like this of millions of middle class minds.
    One can't get justice from the current system of governance against a politician, a government company, a wealthy guy,.... If you cross your invisible borders and risk yourself for doing something good, you would surely end up in the street bathing in your own blood.
    Is there an end to it?
    Maybe we would say Anniyans and Indians should be born in real time - Why don't everyone make it a point that we will grow the next generation with all the good thinkings of Justice, Honesty and Unbiased thinking. Maybe WE have the power to change india in the next generation.
    - At that time, I am sure the dirty politicians will die eating their money hard earned by stopping the happiness of millions of helpless Indians - No use as they have crossed their time and wasted their excellent opportunity to help the people of a country that is on the way to become a super power.
    - Angry Indian a bit calmer now after expressing the outburst in heart.
    • ^
    • v
    Do you think complaining a govt. PSU will work ? No ways man, doenst help at al
    Second thing is that even though the contention ratio of bsnl is 1:50 most of the users get the said sppeds 26-30 kBps. Even if we get 8KBps in the morning it should suffice because its not the time we do downlaods but simple browsing . i feel as long i get full speeds in night its fine with me.
    The data cap sucks for sure but do we have any other option. Airtel which now seems the best competitor is not available every where so wait for the competetion to get hotter
    • ^
    • v
    Cyrus, What kind of a loser are you?
    I am not getting my money's worth at all. It is due to the attitude of few people like you who refuse to stand up for their rights and accept it taking it lying down. Grow up man!
    • ^
    • v
    I wasnt lying back any ways . Get it right from me. I have heard from many people that they get around 30 KBps speed at any time in the day. Even i get those speeds but some times there are slow times in the day time which get solved in a couple of weeks.
    I am no way comlying with them. One more thing i would like here to add is the billing discrimancy in the NU period in which most of the people got inflated bill for which their night usage was also charged.
    • ^
    • v
    Delivering the speed is the only thing that BSNL has been able to deliver. Officers who do not know that 1GB is 1024MB, what is the meaning of BOD on *their* portal... Technicians who have no second thoughts at all while changing the clock of the server ahead and behind the ragular times for days in succession especially during the `free night hours'(yes you thought you had logged in at 2am, but their records would show that you had logged in at1.50am); Split bills for half a month and then again for the rest of the month; Full payment for the month even if you get connection, say, on the 20th of the month (but free daytime data usage for that period is 33.33% of the 1GB limit). Bills that have unnecessarily runs into multiple of 10's of thousands [yes you got to pay the bill and IF there is any discrepancy, according to their whims and fancies, you shall be rebated in your subsequent bill(s)]. Different people from the helpdesk giving totally different answers for the same query. I could go on and on... one small information. My dataone charge for the month of August was billed at Rs.3109.92 On challenging them and showing them adequate proob, the bill was changed to Rs.620.12. Hey the latest piece is that the billing department of BSNL takes the data to be billed from a totally different server and ot the ones that you and I see on the portals. The worst part is that very few users care to find out about these portals and forums and meekly pay up their bills... otherwise they stand to loose their phone connection ;)
    • ^
    • v
    hmmmm.... I got the Liberty plan order on 6th september and got modem on august 1 full one month. I am in Metro politan city of India, chennai.

    I wrote letter to BSNL BRoadband Manager,chennai for delay of service, but no reply yet. And till 5th today I did not yet able to visit a single website.

    I already sent a mail to "The Hindu" editor about the publicity of Broadband advertisement by spending Telecom money. I can say this is purely political gain by its minister Maran. I may request the public ie its subcribers like us to send a mail to prime minister & opposition leaders, to stop spending money on advertisement by fooling public.

    I am telling this because I applied only after seeing advertisement and I trusted because it is govt. enterprise.

    Mohamed
    • ^
    • v
    bsnl claim that it provide dataone connection at 256 kbps. but i am in doubt because it only 18 to 20 kbps.i wait for my billing whether it will be correct or error billing will come lets see
    • ^
    • v
    I have no complaints as far as their speeds are concerned. regularly get 31-32kBps :)
    • ^
    • v
    Guys,

    I have recently purchased a PC & was looking for good internet service provider. After reading your comments, I think I should give it a 2nd thought to go for BSNL Broadband.

    Can u guys suggest which ISP I should opt for?

    Cheers,

    Shekar
    • ^
    • v
    Its shocking that a company set up to serve the public is responsible for holding back the progress of an entire nation.

    I think the only way we can do something is to find a way to initiate a lawsuit - ie. public interest litigation. If any of you are interested in working together to start a class action suit email me on manu_sood@hotmail.com

    It is also no point sending disinterested parties letters like these. We need to get bigger fish involved who have interest in cheaper broadband and can provide, even behind the scenes support with finance, lawyers etc
    • ^
    • v
    I need your help. For the same, I would agree with Manu Sood above. Had it not been for my exams, I would have filed a case long time back. It might be possible to set across a chain of mails to the concerned authorities.

    For more details head over here for the list of the email ids of the concerned persons.
    http://broadbandblog.in/336/need-your-help/

    Of course, I would be thankful for all your support and help.
    • ^
    • v
    I need your help. For the same, I would agree with Manu Sood above. Had it not been for my exams, I would have filed a case long time back. It might be possible to set across a chain of mails to the concerned authorities.

    For more details head over here for the list of the email ids of the concerned persons.
    http://broadbandblog.in/336/need-your-help/

    Of course, I would be thankful for all your support and help.
    • ^
    • v
    airtel?
    • ^
    • v
    hi guys! iam from hyderabad, got bsnl connection just 2 months back, everything went off well and good in the first month, then came shocking first bill of my broadband, astonishing, mindblowing, banboozooled with the the hefty bill i received, which is 6,200 though i took annual subsciption by paying 7000 in advance under home 500 scheme, when enquired the reason for this they simply state that itz bcoz of browising, so guys! beware of these hidden charges which u don't find anywhere, even the great officers of so called bsnl could not justify technicall what i uploading, downloading, or datatransfer etc, so before opting for this much advertised broadband, beware of bills itz goin to cost you, ur money an telophone connection, bye
    • ^
    • v
    Let me explain my experience with BSNL. I registered for broadband connection throught online nearly a month. Even though i got an order for the new broadband connection. I am still waiting for that elusive day when i go online. I made a lot of complain. I am residing in chennai. Every time when i complain i get a very poor response. It seems BSNL authorties are sleeping. Finally I have decided to do away with BSNL broadband connection. I may try TATA-INDICOM. Never use BSNL.It just Sucks.
    • ^
    • v
    Hi gentlemen,

    I used Tata Indicom (astonishingly slow), then Reliance (incredibly high bills) and am using BSNL broadband right now. The main problem with them is when you try to contact anyone for help or clarification, I AM DAMN SURE YOU WILL NOT SUCCEED for several attempts. I hope those people (mostly all) are depressed with their work and are in the verge of suicide. No proper response and respect. They don't even think about the fact that they are not even a part of this revloution. I am wondering what these fellows would have done if Sir. Grahambell didn't invent the phone at all. It looks like everything is happening becoze of them (uffff).

    For long since I have been worried to think that I was the only one worried about the odd (worst) happenings in the society. But accidentally I was lucky enough to come across your comments which make me feel happy and stronger that there are at least a valuable few like you to react in this way. I am sure if we are strong enough to react in a SMART way, we can shove these giant frauds for ever. We can also teach them that younger generation can do something for the sake of betterment of the society.

    I will soon contact you soon Manu_Sood.

    All of you take care (The society needs you)

    Pramod
    • ^
    • v
    i am not able 2 know my bb usage ,the link now takes me 2 sancharnet.So i am unable 2 check usage hours.Secondly i want 2 know how bsnl charge for a session say 1.45 to say 9.00am.as the used mb includes free time also.the statement shows all sessions including free.Transparency needed as to how bsnl calculates
    • ^
    • v
    @ p.s. kumar try these links. Please use internet explorer

    http://10.240.89.199
    or
    http://10.240.43.216

    They have got another server for billing details and that server stops recording between 2am to 8am. Hope this helps
    • ^
    • v
    Recently I decided to go ro BSNl Brorad Band after getting fedup with sucking servevices of Tata Indicom dialup connection. But after reading all these i am very much afraid. I want to know one thing for Home Plan 250 (.4Gb is upload download limit) does it mean internet accessing will be unlimited and only while downloading and uploading they will charge. Please calrify someone?
    • ^
    • v
    Hello Sanjay, it means your total broadband usage (inclusive of uploads and downloads) is limited to a total of .4GB (roughly 409MB) per month. Even when you browse and a page is loaded there is a bit of data download (the html of the page is downloaded) and upload (the acknowledgement package to the server that you received the html data correctly). These are all counted in the .4GB Anything extra and it will be charged for :(

    P.S.: Right click on any blank portion of this page and check out the page info. You'll find that this page is of 13.9kb (if browsed through Firefox, but will be significantly higher if browsed through Internet Explorer... the difference is due to the way different browsers interpret pages). Strongly suggest that you use Firefox with graphics turned off and avoid adding plugins for Flash etc. since they add a considerable amount of data to a page.
    • ^
    • v