It’s not often that a press release tickles your funny bone, but I found it quite amusing that public sector telecom operator MTNL, which services only the metro cities of Delhi and Mumbai, is pitching the lack of a fair usage policy to its subscribers:
‘MTNL is providing the truly Unlimited Broadband plan without any “Fair Usage Policy” or limitations regarding download and uploads,’ the BSE listed company said in a press release.
The instituting of an unfair “fair usage policy” is a relatively new phenomenon in India, with broadband service providers like Tata Indicom, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Broadband (for data card services), trying to curtail rampant broadband usage of their broadband plans. Honestly, we think they have every right to put limits on their services, but they shouldn’t be misleading consumers by naming broadband plans with limits “Unlimited”. If you can’t afford it, don’t sell it. The Telecom Regulator appears to have, so far, turned a blind eye to such misleading communication practices in the sector.
MTNL has also increased the speed of its existing Unlimited Broadband plan “Triband unlimited 256Kbps” to 384 Kbps, and increased the timing for the ‘Night Unlimited’ plan to 10pm to 8am, from 11pm to 7am. MTNL and BSNL have an advantage when it comes to broadband, in that they only have access to government owned last mile in India. This has stymied the growth of private ISPs in India, and even today, (relatively) large ISPs like Bharti Airtel and Reliance Communications don’t service parts of metro cities, leave alone smaller towns in India. Thus, Wireless appears to be the way forward, and some, like Tata Indicom, have launched fixed WiMax services for consumers.
Related:
– Tata Indicom May Suspend Or Terminate Unlimited Broadband Accounts If Used Beyond Limits
– Tata, RCOM Unlimited Wireless Data Card Plans Have Data Limits Of 10 GB
This website uses IntenseDebate comments, but they are not currently loaded because either your browser doesn't support JavaScript, or they didn't load fast enough.
13 Comments until now.
Does MTNL also offer a wireless datacard with unlimited plan?
MTNL Mumbai Data Card check here http://mumbai.mtnl.net.in/3gweb/index.html
Why does it tickle your funny bone. The fact remains that on MTNL plans are truly unlimited. And, it is only MTNL that counts only downloads in capped plans. MTNL may not have the spit and polish of the private players but it works.
I found the fact that they're pitching the lack of a fair usage policy quite amusing. MTNL is great, I agree…just that when their connection goes down, the customer service sucks.
Well, with all the ruckus about Airtel's and Tata Indicom's FUPs, MTNL does have something to crow about.
Hey Nikhil, I am a big fan of yours and have been reading medianama from quite some time (using my mtnl connection). Their service is great but it is their customer service that is a MAJOR problem. But then that's the problem with our railways and anything that is govt owned. As for the 'no fair usage' policy, I think it is a very nice thing.
We are all getting sick of telcos using the "fair usage" policy to their cartel advantage. TRAI needs to step in at the earliest to check the high charges for so called broadband when the actual speed you get is 1/8th the proposed speed. I use the so called 1 MB unlimited plan from Airtel(24 hours), pay Rs. 1799 for this plan, but get a maximum download speed of 128kbps. Having checked from the no. 121 at customer care, Airtel, was repeatedly told that 1/8th is the max. speed you can get as per Airtel norms. The whole idea of buying the plan under an 8 TIMES higher speed is ridiculous and cheating for the customer, who most of the times gets lured by the smart marketing showing higher speeds. Request to TRAI to look into it and get "fair" policy for the user for getting true value for the money paid. Thankyou.
good move….
Jatin,
Is it 128 K Bytes/sec or 128 K bits/sec? If it's the first one, you are getting the correct speed.
Shashi, I have re-checked on the http://speed.airtelbroadband.in/ website. It is kilobits per second.
I was also having the conection in dwarka, and i personally sugest all of you to do not go for MTNL in dwarka, I paid nearly 712 pm, and in whole month it worked only 15 days. I contacted AM many times but no use.
Even I approched consumer court and file case against them and its more then 4 months still the case is pending, apart from this i also filed in their website http://www.consumercourt.in/broadband/1-mtnl-broa... , I am a lawyer and personally suggest everyone not to buy this, they don’t know the importance of internet. :(
Name: Adv. Om Parkesh
Connection no 25081567
Location Dwarka, New Delhi 110075
I was also having the conection in dwarka, and i personally sugest all of you to do not go for MTNL in dwarka, I paid nearly 712 pm, and in whole month it worked only 15 days. I contacted AM many times but no use.
Even I approched consumer court and file case against them and its more then 4 months still the case is pending, apart from this i also filed in their website http://www.consumercourt.in/broadband/1-mtnl-broa... , I am a lawyer and personally suggest everyone not to buy this, they don’t know the importance of internet. :(
Name: Adv. Om Parkesh
Connection no 25081567
Location Dwarka, New Delhi 110075
network means bits/sec for home use.