Some time back when i shifted to my new residence, I was searching for reliable broadband (BB) service provider….I explored Reliance, Tata, YOU, Tikona, Railtel & Airtel…i kept BSNL out of research as i remembered my horrible service experience with BSNL during my childhood days, some 20 years ago…Those days any complaint resolution used to take 15-20 days + 50 Rs as Chai Paani (Another name for bribe in North India)….Anyways Post research i found that YOU, Tata & Tikona don’t provide service in my apartment & Reliance Broadband through wireless was BIG NO from all users….
I was left with Railtel and Airtel…I read some reviews on Railtel & almost everyone recommended the same. I got Railtel BB installed & was very happy with their services..My happiness only lasted for 3 months as they decided to wind up their services from my complex becoz of handful connections in 600+ flats complex….What i felt was that they lacked skills in marketing else their services were damn good…This also proves that even a good product cannot be sold without Marketing (All Marketing professionals must be smiling & feeling proud after reading this).
Next option left was Airtel Broadband (Still no consideration for BSNL), Also the tenants who were staying earlier in same flat before we moved in had Airtel Broadband connection so I thought the installation will be fast and smooth…I called Airtel Customer Care and left my request for new Airtel Broadband Connection…I received call after 2-3 days and they told me to get in touch with local representative…
I called him next day and he came same day evening, he told me to deposit 500 Rs Installation fees. I informed him that previous resident of same flat, had Airtel connection so installation is already done..He (Airtel) just need to Plug and Play but Airtel representative told it’s a Rule, which i fail to understand….Secondly when I checked with him on plans, he told me there is only 1 plan for new subscribers i.e. 3 months advance rental plan (upto 2Mbps speed) @ approx 800 Rs per month…I can select any other plan only after 3 Months. I was shocked to see only 1 plan for new sub, he told me that if i want Airtel service then it is the only plan available else I should look out for some other service provider…I was shocked on hearing this, my 20 years back BSNL experience was now appearing very nice to me as they never used to talk like this 20 years back when there was no competition…
Anyways I was not having any other option but to accept (Hope I would have given 2nd thought to BSNL at this juncture)…As per my plan or only plan (Written with sarcastic intention) I was promised speed of upto 2 Mbps. As a unwritten thumb rule in BB industry, I was expecting minimum 1/8th speed i.e. 250Kbps & was also confirmed at the time of installation becoz the main fiber cable (2 Mbps) from which connection is pulled out is shared between 8 users or houses so BB service provider always mention speed upto 2 Mbps i.e. if at any point if no one is using the connection then i will get speed of 2 Mbps as i am using the entire bandwidth until & unless u have dedicated Line like Fiber to Home plans of BSNL then u will get assured speed of what is being promised…Now in shared plan if 2 users are using the connection out of 8 then bandwidth of 2 Mbps we will be equally divided between 2 @ 1 Mbps each…In a nutshell even with shared connection download speed of BB connection should never fall below 250 Kbps under 2 Mbps plan…
Now from day 1, I was getting a speed of less than 100 Kbps and during night time, I used to get 150 Kbps which was not sufficient for me…I complained numerous times and I got quite exciting excuses from visiting engineer every time…Some of them I am listing down
- RAM is not sufficient: I was having 1 GB and I upgraded to 2 GB
- Processor is Slow: I was having Pentium IV and I upgraded to Core 2 Duo
- My C drive is full: I moved files from C to E drive and upgraded hard disk to 160 GB
Even after spending some 15k plus, my desktop speed was happily stagnant @ less than 100 Kbps….It was time to get tough with these guys…Now in round 2 of complaints, they put entire onus on Modems which were provided by them only..Initially i received Beetal 220 modem and it was replaced twice then I got Beetal 110 & it was also replaced thrice but speed had decided not to move beyond 100 Kbs..Airtel feel customer is fool, when i explained them logic of sharing, the engineer excepted that I shud get minimum speed of 250 Kbps.
After One & a half years ordeal, I got rid of Airtel but my problem didn’t end here..After 2 months of disconnection, I got Bill of 2 Months..Luckily while disconnecting the connection i insisted on return receipt of Modem and Landline Instrument….Which was blessing in disguise else i was threatened of legal action if I will not pay the bill.
After that I realized my mistake of not considering BSNL initially…In my next blog I will share my amazing experience with BSNL (Was not expected at all from BSNL in my dreams) …The kind of service i was expecting from Airtel, i received it from BSNL and what i was expecting from BSNL, Airtel provided me that experience…What an irony of Life !!!!
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