Why BSNL Broadband is not revolutionary?
March 3rd, 2006 Leave a comment Visited 180 times, 16 so far today
Why BSNL Broadband is not revolutionary?
Here is a post from a very sensible member on the India Broadband Forum:
I guess some of us need to be clear about what broadband internet really means. So, please tell me why I should get rid of my dial up line and take broadband instead….this is what I think…; I need huge data over my internet line, that’s why…there is no other reason whatsoever for taking broadband, like showing off to my friends etc.. I need to do video chat, I need to watch online movies, play online games, share the photos and videos that I shot with my family/friend, check out the latest linux distros…. the list is endless…and all these need huge bandwidth… and for that I want broadband. If all that I needed is sending emails or making railway reservations, I didn’t have to opt for broadband, the dialup would have been suffice.
Ok, now why should I take 24/7 always-on 256 kbps broadband??? Because (1) I need that much bandwidth all the time and (2) I need it 24 hours a day, everyday. Otherwise, the plan would have been like 100 hours Dataone or 50 Hours Dataone package (like the dialup plans). Now, BSNL is giving ‘24 hours always-on’ 256kbps line’ but only 1 GB per month, which, by the way, is equivalent to 10 hours of dataone experience (@ 100 MB per hour). So, either we are expected to use Dataone for 10 hours in a month (at full bandwidth for 256 kbps) or, 720 hours in a month (i.e., 24/7) @ 414 bps speed (!!!), otherwise u have to pay @ Re.1.20 per MB extra. So, are they giving u the promised speed??? or is it just your illusion???
What BSNL is doing is giving you 10 hours of 256 kbps line or a 414 bps 24/7 line (or someting in between). You said dataone is affordable. Is it really?? You don’t have to compare Dataone with broadband in countries line England or Taiwan, at Re.1.20 per MB, Dataone is more expensive than dialup line in India.
People are forced to use BSNL because there is no real competition and people have less (or no) awareness about their rights.
Broadband means unlimited broadband, but we the Indians invented a new definition of broadband (like every other thing) which is unique in India, you can log on, stay connected with a high speed line all day long, but cannot use the internet….simply because it will consume data, and ur limit is only 1024 KB per month… ( then what good is ur broadband after all???) funny isn’t it??? No, its not funny, its a farce, a fraud, cheating with the people…. but the sad thing is some of us is jumping in joy saying ‘HAIL BSNL…’ without understanding anything.
( So, after the ‘very affordable’ broadband offer, ie, 400 MB p.m. @ Rs.250/-, if BSNL comes up with a more ‘extremely affordable’ offer like Rs.100/- p.m. with 100 MB data cap, I wonder what people will say then??!!!!!!)
Rightly said. Right?
|
TechWhack on Facebook
|
March 3rd, 2006 at 01:06 pm
I dont agree with the poster on the reasons for getting broadband internet. Broadband internet is comparable to a utility like electricity, water, cable connection (channel). With the exception of electricity, we dont need water and cable 24×7. Your water tap is turned off half of the time and you probably only watch a few TV serials/soaps. Yet, these utilities are always-on, connected and ready to be used. We dont even question its need.
Similarly, broadband internet is a always-on high speed connection. There is a lot of content and services targetted towards the Indian market. There are job sites, matrimonials, travel sites, news, stock trading, banking etc.
Are you sure, you want to block another utility, the telephone, while you access the net? More and more Indians are logging onto the net during daytime, as more the more services and content becomes relevant to them and their needs.
Now the question is whether companies like BSNL do a fair job of providing this always on, high speed internet. In this case, I totally agree with the poster. Companies like BSNL do a horrible job of understanding and adapting to the tectonic shifts happening in the industry. They still live with the restrictive mentality. If they where a broadcast company, the would still be serving out Doordarshan during 9 to 5 only (because our crew also need to go home by 5 – hehe)
March 4th, 2006 at 12:36 am
I dont agree with the poster on the reasons for getting broadband internet. Broadband internet is comparable to a utility like electricity, water, cable connection (channel). With the exception of electricity, we dont need water and cable 24×7. Your water tap is turned off half of the time and you probably only watch a few TV serials/soaps. Yet, these utilities are always-on, connected and ready to be used. We dont even question its need.
Similarly, broadband internet is a always-on high speed connection. There is a lot of content and services targetted towards the Indian market. There are job sites, matrimonials, travel sites, news, stock trading, banking etc.
Are you sure, you want to block another utility, the telephone, while you access the net? More and more Indians are logging onto the net during daytime, as more the more services and content becomes relevant to them and their needs.
Now the question is whether companies like BSNL do a fair job of providing this always on, high speed internet. In this case, I totally agree with the poster. Companies like BSNL do a horrible job of understanding and adapting to the tectonic shifts happening in the industry. They still live with the restrictive mentality. If they where a broadcast company, the would still be serving out Doordarshan during 9 to 5 only (because our crew also need to go home by 5 – hehe)
March 4th, 2006 at 01:19 am
I fully agree that BSNL is taking the gullible consumers for a ride by saying that their broad-band is the cheapest. In reality, the dial-up connection is cheaper. There should be no limits for the usage. Also, their definition of downloads and uploads needs transparency. They say, this I have it from their Customer Service, that Down Load or Up Load means if the site accessed. That means even if you surf, then you are likely to be charged. This is not what the download or up-load means.
March 4th, 2006 at 12:49 pm
I fully agree that BSNL is taking the gullible consumers for a ride by saying that their broad-band is the cheapest. In reality, the dial-up connection is cheaper. There should be no limits for the usage. Also, their definition of downloads and uploads needs transparency. They say, this I have it from their Customer Service, that Down Load or Up Load means if the site accessed. That means even if you surf, then you are likely to be charged. This is not what the download or up-load means.
March 4th, 2006 at 03:55 am
awesome info man.. Go for Airtel 999plus dsl plan,256 unltd , no boundaries,limits, night gives a lil more bandwidth, no disconnects, awesome customer service.
March 4th, 2006 at 03:25 pm
awesome info man.. Go for Airtel 999plus dsl plan,256 unltd , no boundaries,limits, night gives a lil more bandwidth, no disconnects, awesome customer service.
April 20th, 2006 at 09:32 am
I absolutely agree with the poster.
Broadband with a limit is farce, broadband which promices speeds “upto” a certain limit, is also a farce. It mocks the demand for “relatively high speed” internet that is being generated in our courty.
Some people who are fortunate enough (includes me) to have a 256Kbps always on unlimited connection are plagued with problems of their own.
I use a hathway, more commonly known as “crapway” internet connection, where my ports are blocked, during the day per HTTP connection i get only 8KBps, while the same thing at night is about 22.
So after putting up with stupid limits, port blocks , slow usage during the day, there is the customer service front.
Most ISP’s that i have used, hathway, mtnl and mantra online have a stupid non existenet customer service devision. It is as if the ISPs hire complete idiots, people who dont understand that port 443 needs to be open for god-damned SSL.
VSNL, the ex govt big player, now under the TATA’s is providing internet that is nearly Rs. 600 more than the other players, apparently they NOW have a lot of bandwith, after laying a new pipeline with SG. Lets hope they reduce their exorbitant prices.
April 19th, 2006 at 11:02 pm
I absolutely agree with the poster.
Broadband with a limit is farce, broadband which promices speeds “upto” a certain limit, is also a farce. It mocks the demand for “relatively high speed” internet that is being generated in our courty.
Some people who are fortunate enough (includes me) to have a 256Kbps always on unlimited connection are plagued with problems of their own.
I use a hathway, more commonly known as “crapway” internet connection, where my ports are blocked, during the day per HTTP connection i get only 8KBps, while the same thing at night is about 22.
So after putting up with stupid limits, port blocks , slow usage during the day, there is the customer service front.
Most ISP’s that i have used, hathway, mtnl and mantra online have a stupid non existenet customer service devision. It is as if the ISPs hire complete idiots, people who dont understand that port 443 needs to be open for god-damned SSL.
VSNL, the ex govt big player, now under the TATA’s is providing internet that is nearly Rs. 600 more than the other players, apparently they NOW have a lot of bandwith, after laying a new pipeline with SG. Lets hope they reduce their exorbitant prices.
July 5th, 2006 at 11:08 am
broadband with limits are present all over! but.. unlike the stupid 1gb.. they are more like 20-40gb.. but.. then again.. they offer up to 8mbps.. so.. using ur theory.. is basically the same as what our “lovely” bsnl does!
but what is funny though.. is that when people abroad use the term “broadband”.. they are talking of a 2mbps line upwards.. anything below is called.. dsl.. hmmm..
anyways.. while researching braodband connections abroad..i found an unlimited connction in the uk for the folowing specs..
“upto” 8mbps
“unlimited*” where the * meant something abt a “fair” useage policy where the users were discouraged to use the line in peak hours and massive downloading could be done only between 10pm and 6 am!.. oh.. that reminds me so much abt sify..but but but.. 8mbps.. and a whole night.. u could probably download the whole damn internet with that kinda speed!
but the best part, what makes this package an awesome deal is.. its woth 15 pounds.. which.. is almost 1200 RS!!!
now.. if they offer me a quarter of the bandwidth with the same restrictions here in india for half the price! i’d take it with both hands and even try grabbin it with my feet.. i pray that day comes to india soon!
till then.. we shall have to suffer the agony!
July 5th, 2006 at 12:38 am
broadband with limits are present all over! but.. unlike the stupid 1gb.. they are more like 20-40gb.. but.. then again.. they offer up to 8mbps.. so.. using ur theory.. is basically the same as what our “lovely” bsnl does!
but what is funny though.. is that when people abroad use the term “broadband”.. they are talking of a 2mbps line upwards.. anything below is called.. dsl.. hmmm..
anyways.. while researching braodband connections abroad..i found an unlimited connction in the uk for the folowing specs..
“upto” 8mbps
“unlimited*” where the * meant something abt a “fair” useage policy where the users were discouraged to use the line in peak hours and massive downloading could be done only between 10pm and 6 am!.. oh.. that reminds me so much abt sify..but but but.. 8mbps.. and a whole night.. u could probably download the whole damn internet with that kinda speed!
but the best part, what makes this package an awesome deal is.. its woth 15 pounds.. which.. is almost 1200 RS!!!
now.. if they offer me a quarter of the bandwidth with the same restrictions here in india for half the price! i’d take it with both hands and even try grabbin it with my feet.. i pray that day comes to india soon!
till then.. we shall have to suffer the agony!
July 13th, 2006 at 04:25 am
my intenet is 10 mbps or 1.2MB/S when downloadin from microsoft or some good sites and i get 120 gig of bandwidth. india has broadband but it’s still far behind in technology.
July 12th, 2006 at 05:55 pm
my intenet is 10 mbps or 1.2MB/S when downloadin from microsoft or some good sites and i get 120 gig of bandwidth. india has broadband but it’s still far behind in technology.
July 13th, 2006 at 04:27 am
i meant internet technology.
July 12th, 2006 at 05:57 pm
i meant internet technology.
October 19th, 2006 at 01:55 pm
If you willing to pay the sky is the limit, I frankly use the net from home for things that I would anyway do on a dial up and a nice Linux PC (no i think its great that SO costs are subsidised too), Do i want to play vdo games, no! its too expensive and even if it was cheaper, why ?? I need email, chat, web surf to get info and some basic things which I would otherwise have to do via either courier or books etc.
so vis a vis cost versus utility the broadband at say 128kbps does its job well. If you willing to pay im sure any SP will be willing to offer you the link capacity you need. But are you willing to pay? Sounds like you want a free lunch and have a huge appetite!
A govt decides to do something and susidises it so that masses can benefit, the day more people want the luxury of higher capacity on the wire, more people get it….
Personally i think keeping low cost with minimal need is better than giving too much at a low rate, especially when there isnt a dire need.
As far as UK goes, dont even compare yourself to them, they dont spit pan on the road or piss on walls like we do! First get to that level in your lifestyle, then ask for that subsidy,
and if you are already at a GBP income level, then im sure you can afford the 2Mb links in india too :)
October 19th, 2006 at 03:25 am
If you willing to pay the sky is the limit, I frankly use the net from home for things that I would anyway do on a dial up and a nice Linux PC (no i think its great that SO costs are subsidised too), Do i want to play vdo games, no! its too expensive and even if it was cheaper, why ?? I need email, chat, web surf to get info and some basic things which I would otherwise have to do via either courier or books etc.
so vis a vis cost versus utility the broadband at say 128kbps does its job well. If you willing to pay im sure any SP will be willing to offer you the link capacity you need. But are you willing to pay? Sounds like you want a free lunch and have a huge appetite!
A govt decides to do something and susidises it so that masses can benefit, the day more people want the luxury of higher capacity on the wire, more people get it….
Personally i think keeping low cost with minimal need is better than giving too much at a low rate, especially when there isnt a dire need.
As far as UK goes, dont even compare yourself to them, they dont spit pan on the road or piss on walls like we do! First get to that level in your lifestyle, then ask for that subsidy,
and if you are already at a GBP income level, then im sure you can afford the 2Mb links in india too :)
December 26th, 2007 at 02:43 am
I have been using the bsnl unlimited plan at 256kbps.
But when i tested it gave me speeds around 300KBps.
i got those speeds with a download manager.
December 26th, 2007 at 02:13 pm
I have been using the bsnl unlimited plan at 256kbps.
But when i tested it gave me speeds around 300KBps.
i got those speeds with a download manager.