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Best Wireless Internet Service in India- A Comparative Study

By Partho

March 14th, 2009

wireless_broadband The challenge for providing high speed Wireless Internet Service is soaring in India. There is a greater demand for wireless Internet as people want to stay connected to the web wherever they go. In my recent article - Reliance USB Modem with 3.1 Mpbs Speed: Now 20 Times Faster, I have already highlighted how Reliance's wireless high speed Netconnect Broadband is all set to contend BSNL's much hyped EVDO. The USB modems and data cards have taken wireless Internet experience to new heights. For any corporate professional, or say a bloggers mobility offered by wireless internet broadband connectivity is always a plus. But, I find a number of people confused about the wireless connection that would suit their needs. With a bit of research on the top wireless Internet connection providers in India, I made an effort to simplify things for them. Here's what I found.

Take an overview of the wireless broadband internet plans by the major players in Indian market - Tataindicom, BSNL, Reliance and Airtel.

Tataindicom Photon - High Speed Internet Access ( HSIA ) service

Speed: Simply plug the US Modem device into your Laptop or Desktop PC to access internet at speeds of upto 2.4 Mbps (Downlink speed). Internet speed will depend on multiple factors like time of the day, number of simultaneous users, web page accessed etc.

Tata Indicom's USB Modem is available at Rs 3500

Tariff plan

There are three tariff plans

Hi-Speed 500

Monthly charge - Rs 700
Download limit - 0.5GB
Promotional Offer - Free 1GB
Extra MB download - Rs.2/MB
Charges for hardware - 3500

Hi-Speed 1000 plan

Monthly charge - Rs 800
Download limit - 1 GB
Promotional Offer - Free 2GB
Extra MB download - Rs.2/MB
Charges for hardware - 3500

Hi-Speed unlimited plan

Monthly charge - Rs 1500
Download limit - Unlimited
Promotional Offer - N.A
Extra MB download - N.A
Charges for hardware - 3500

BSNL's Wireless Internet Service

Speed: EVDO offers speed ranging upto 2.4Mbps.

The Data Card is available at a cost of Rs 3000 (for one time charges). No monthly rentals are charged for the data card.

Tariff Plan

Tariff Plan for Wimax broadband service

HOWI 1000

Bandwidth - 256Kbps
Single/Multi User - SU
Installation charges - Rs 750
Fixed Monthly - Rs 1000
Discounted Annual Payment Option - Rs 10000
Free Email IDs/ Space (Per email ID) - 2/5 MB
Dl/UL limit per month - Unlimited
Security Deposit - One Month's Fixed Monthly Charges

HOWI 1800

Bandwidth - 512 Kbps
Single/Multi User - SU
Installation charges - Rs 750
Fixed Monthly - Rs 1800
Discounted Annual Payment Option - Rs 18000
Free Email IDs/ Space (Per email ID) - 2/5 MB
Dl/UL limit per month - Unlimited
Security Deposit - One Month's Fixed Monthly Charges

For Business

BUWI 8000

Bandwidth - 256 Kbps
Single/Multi User - MU
Installation charges - Rs 750
Fixed Monthly - 8000
Discounted Annual Payment Option - Rs 80000
Free Email IDs/ Space (Per email ID) - 2/5 MB
Dl/UL limit per month - Unlimited
Security Deposit - One Month's Fixed Monthly Charges

BUWI 12000

Bandwidth - 512 Kbps
Single/Multi User - MU
Installation charges - Rs 750
Fixed Monthly - Rs 12000
Discounted Annual Payment Option - Rs 120000
Free Email IDs/ Space (Per email ID) - 4/5 MB
Dl/UL limit per month - Unlimited
Security Deposit - One Month's Fixed Monthly Charges

BUWI 20000

Bandwidth - 2048 Kbps
Single/Multi User - MU
Installation charges - Rs 750
Fixed Monthly - Rs 20000
Discounted Annual Payment Option - Rs 200000
Free Email IDs/ Space (Per email ID) - 4/5 MB
Dl/UL limit per month - Unlimited
Security Deposit - One Month's Fixed Monthly Charges

Reliance NetConnect Broadband

reliance-netconnect Speed: This is a simply plug and play broadband option which offers speeds of upto 3.1 Mpbs

USB Modem is available at Rs 3500 with 2 months unlimited Internet connection.

Tariff Plans for Wireless Broadband services

For Speed 150 Kbps + Unlimited Download - Rs 750 / Month
For Speed 300 Kbps + Unlimited Download - Rs 999 / Month
For Speed 600 Kbps + Unlimited Download - Rs 1,799 / Month
This is exclusive of the service tax and installation charges

Reliance Business Wireless Broadband Plans for SME/SMB

Speed 100 Kbps + Unlimited Download - Rs 1,250 / Month
Speed 300 Kbps + Unlimited Download - Rs 4,000 / Month
Speed 600 Kbps + Unlimited Download - Rs 11,100 / Month
This is exclusive of the service taxes and installation charges

Airtel's EDGE wireless Internet Service

Speed: Airtel's wireless EDGE 247 kbps high-speed data

USB Modem is available at an Mrp of Rs 2999

Tariff Plan:

Standard Plan

Data Card Rental: Rs 49
Free Bundled Usage: N.A
Additional Data Usage (per MB): Re 0.10p/10KB
Voice Plan: Additional any plan

Plan I

Data Card Rental: Rs 350
Free Bundled Usage: 500 MB
Additional Data Usage (per MB): Rs. 5/-
Voice Plan: Voice Rental Inclusive

Plan II

Data Card Rental: Rs 599
Free Bundled Usage: 1 GB
Additional Data Usage (per MB): Rs. 3/-
Voice Plan: Voice Rental Inclusive

Plan III

Data Card Rental: Rs 999
Free Bundled Usage: Unlimited
Additional Data Usage (per MB):
Voice Plan: Voice Rental Inclusive

ANALYSIS

Let's draw a comparison between the major Internet providers in the Indian market in terms speed, price and download limit.

Speed

The speed is a crucial feature for any broadband service. Although the speed of a wireless broadband connection depends on a lot of factors, the key is to get the one that is real fast. If you are power user who needs to access things in a jiffy, it seems that Reliance with 3.1Mbps and BSNL with 2.4 Mbps would score high and Tataindicom with upto 2.4 Mbps are good options.

Price

This is one of the major consideration while choosing a wireless Internet connection. As I can see the Reliance wireless USB worth Rs 3500 with 2 months unlimited Internet connection offering speeds of upto 3.1 Mpbs might be the ace. The BSNL also offers decent plans that are worth the price.

Download Limit

This should be determined according to the type of job you are involved in. Suppose you are a blogger, there's not much you need to download. They can probably do with BSNL's HOWI 1800. But a web designer or even a developer needs to decide upon the download limit can look for something BSNL's BUWI 12000 or Tataindicom's Hi-Speed unlimited plan. For small or medium businesses BSNL's BUWI 20000 or Reliance Business Wireless Broadband 600 Kbps Unlimited Download seems a suitable offer.

Filed under India, Java Software, Open Source Software, Technology | Tags: Data card, reliance Netconnect Broadband, Things, USB Modem, wireless internet broadband connectivity, Wireless Internet Service | Comment on this Article 8 Comments | Email this Article

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Ali K Says:
March 16th, 2009 at 7:59 am

New emerging opportunities
Internet business in India

Angsuman Chakraborty Says:
March 16th, 2009 at 10:25 am

Your point being?

C. Gupta Says:
May 7th, 2009 at 11:11 am

Currently wireless broadband is confined to enterprise sponsored connections for employees. The uptake in individual consumer section is low because of the price point and upfront investments. Going forward, I strongly feel wireless is going to be the medium of broadband access.
http://www.bestbroadbandplan.in

Nilesh n Acharya Says:
June 17th, 2009 at 9:43 am

My suggestion for Reliance Netconnect Broadband+ would be a BIG NO. There are frequent disconnections, the net going slow occasionally.

And, as far as service is concerned, I have experienced the worst service ever in my life. Reliance Netconnect is not worth believing. They believe in sales only. So, if you got spare money, pay 3500/- to get the device and struggle to get at least a fair service.

Waikhom NIngsuhen Says:
August 21st, 2009 at 6:16 pm

I applied for a reliance broadband connection and it took almost a week to get activated.. It sucks.. and the worst is that I applied for an unlimited plan paying Rs.1099/- but now they are saying that there’s no unlimited plan and that my monthly download limit is 10GB.
Reliance guys are the worst in customer service.. really sucks.. they got me into buying their product by saying that its an unlimited plan and then just throw me out after becoming their customer..

My point.. Never Trust Reliance…..

Prashant Says:
September 11th, 2009 at 6:16 am

This is really truth about the Reliance Customenr care……..

Avner Says:
November 13th, 2009 at 9:12 am

Hi, I’m coming with a laptop in december for 6 months to south of india. especially Kerala but also Karantaka and Goa.
is there a problem to buy/rent wireless modem for my laptop if I’m a tourist?
what do you think is the best plan/company for me for a web designer like me?
thanks in advance,
Avner

dattatray Says:
November 15th, 2009 at 3:12 am

kind of a person who likes to spend atleast some time alone in a day.Always thinking as if am a kind of diff. person most of the peoples’wawelenth does not match with mine…………..believe and like peacefull life hate this bangalore hate hectic/busy/tentionfull life……wt else…….

Simple solutions for complex problems.