Reliance Broadband NetConnect Plus Vs Tata Indicom Photon Plus
Arrival of high speed broadband USB modems has refashioned the way people access and used Internet. You can just plug and play with USB modems on the go. With big players like BSNL, Airtel, Reliance and TATA indicom involved in the Plug2Surf game it is getting highly competitive. We had already done a comparative study on various wireless broadband Internet providers.
In a closer-tie, two giant telecoms companies Reliance and TATA indicom are hyped to be going neck-and-neck with their USB Modem services. Reliance Netconnect broadband + and TATA Indicom Photon + are being widely discussed and compared in different forums. Let's take a comparative look at the high speed broadband USB services.
Let's find out where's the difference
Speed& Connectivity
Relaince NetConnect Broadband + Evdo (3G) claims to offer a speed of 3.1 Mbps and a uplink speed of upto 1.8 Mbps. It claims to be the fastest Internet connection. It's said to offer a 30 per cent higher downlink rate compared to other wireless broadband offerings.
Tata Indicom Photon+ broadband claims to offer speed upto 3.1 MBPS. TATA Indicom's service in certain parts seems disappointing with people still waiting the speed to shoot the beyond 1100 Mbps mark.
Area of Coverage
TATA Indicom claims that it,s USB device can work anywhere in India by automatically switching over to non HSIA Coverage areas also. But, there's no denying TATA Indicom suffers from a poor coverage, limited to certain cities. It's just available in certain parts of Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Jaipur, Mumbai, Jammu & Kashmir & North East States.
Reliance is way ahead than its rival in terms of coverage. Their coverage extends to 35 cities covering the highways and railways. The service runs through most part of the cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmadabad etc. Currently the service covers the following Indian cities:
Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Bangalore, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Ernakulam, Erode, Guntur, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kakinda, Kolkata, Kota, Lucknow, Ludhiana,Mumbai, Mysore, Nagpur, Patiala, Pune, Rajahmundry, Salem, Surat, Thiruvananthapuram, Tirupur, Udaipur, Ujjain, Vadodara, Vapi, Vijayvada and Visakhapatnam
Modem Charges
Reliance has three different Wireless Broadband USB modems – Huawei EC 1260, Huawei EC 168 C and ZTE AC871 at a
cost of Rs 3500. The modem charges for Tata Photon Plus is Rs.3600.
Tariff Plans
Let's take a look at Reliance's tariffs for Reliance Netconnect Broadband Plus service. Reliance Netconnect Broadband+offers a number of flexible tariff plans that comes in Netconnect Broadband Postpaid tariff and Netconnect Broadband Prepaid tariff. The plans start with pay as you go for available at Rs 299 monthly rental with Rs 2 per MB beyond free Usage. For the nocturnal workers the Broadband+10GB @Night goes perfect. It offers 10GB@ Night with a monthly rental of Rs 499 and 50 paise per minute during day beyond usage charges. Further, there's a Broadband+10GB Night Add-on Pack for Rs 199 monthly rental that offers 10 GB of bundled usage. The timings for night extend from 10 PM to 6 AM. Further there are plans for 5 Mbps, 10 Mbps, 15 Mbps and
TATA Indicom Photon + tariff plans start from Rs.500 per month to Rs.1500 per month. For the Photon+ Lite Rs 500 plan, you get a bandwidth (download+upload+browsing) of 0.5 GB per month and for the Photon+Super Surf Rs 1500 plan, you get 15 GB. Photon+ also has a Surf @ Nite plan at Rs 950 for 2 (Days) and 10 (Night). The charges for extra downloads are Rs. 2 per Mb. In case you wanna pay for what you use TATA Indicom offers plans like Use n Pay which has a monthly rental of Rs 250, the costs for extra download is Rs 1 per min.
Filed under India, Technology, Telecommunications | Tags: Reliance broadband netconnect, Tata Indicom Photon, USB Modem, Waiting | 
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July 23rd, 2009 at 8:17 am
I own a Tata USB modem that offers rather slow speeds. So I am thinking of switching over to either the Reliance Netconnect+ or to the Tata Photon. As is clear the NetConnect+ stands out both in terms of connectivity and speed. HOWEVER can it work on BOTH a Mac and a PC/Laptop? I own a Mac Mini and a PC both of which run off a single monitor. I also own a regular Laptop (not a Macbook). How does one download the drivers or whatever for the Mac?
July 27th, 2009 at 8:10 am
Here is a major problem with Reliance HSD cards or even data cards… their network is not secure!!! After a few hours of usage… you can notice random .exe files being downloaded to your computer… common file names are “kht”, “khu”, ozqkdc.exe, xvnzuu.exe, etc…
I finally tracked down the main hole through which these viruses come in… its when you have “shared folder” these exe’s seem to get downloaded to those folders first.
I have other internet connections and this happens only when I use Reliance Cards.
Beware of Reliance Viruses!!!! You have been warned.
Although thier product does offer download speeds of around 275KB/s… but the virus issue is a BIG PAIN in the A#$
July 27th, 2009 at 8:11 am
Here is a major problem with Reliance HSD cards or even data cards… their network is not secure!!! After a few hours of usage… you can notice random .exe files being downloaded to your computer… common file names are “kht”, “khu”, ozqkdc.exe, xvnzuu.exe, etc…
I finally tracked down the main hole through which these viruses come in… its when you have “shared folder” these exe’s seem to get downloaded to those folders first.
I have other internet connections and this happens only when I use Reliance Cards.
Beware of Reliance Viruses!!!! You have been warned.
Although thier product does offer download speeds of around 275KB/s… but the virus issue is a BIG PAIN!!!!!
July 31st, 2009 at 8:36 am
hi..
i am about to buy a data card but i am confused which one to buy…..
can anyone help me out regarding
>>>>>> best speed and terrif
August 4th, 2009 at 8:15 am
i wanna buy data card but m confused that which one to buy reliance or tata,can anyone help me out,regarding best speed,tariff etc.
August 6th, 2009 at 6:06 am
tata photon plus is a horrible device. Please do not buy it. Teh coverage and service both are equally bad.
August 7th, 2009 at 9:53 am
is there browseing charges on reliance netconnect broadband+
August 8th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Dear sir,
did broad band service available in kadirur ,kannur dt in kerala….
if
no did the devise support internet dial up?
Reliance has three different Wireless Broadband USB modems – Huawei EC 1260, Huawei EC 168 C and ZTE AC871 did the model effect in spee of internet?
Thanks
August 17th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
sir,
which connection is faster reliance or tataindicom?
which one will have better conectivity?
which tariff plan will be suitable for day working hours for home usage and which can be normally be cheaper for an average download of 1GB???
August 18th, 2009 at 9:03 am
I did use Reliance Broadband+ and TATA Photon+.
Reliance offer good coverage with high speed whereas TATA sucks, If you are planning to buy one.
Go with Reliance, you wont regret.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
I bought a Reliance net connect (Hyawei)in end May. It did not work in two of my laptops running Vista. The system does not recognise the usb modem. I brought it to the dealer’s notice within a week and told him to terminate my account in order to atleast save the rental. He said that Reliance would waive rental when the datacard was not working.
After servicing by both the dealer and authorised service personnel, the datacard still did not work in my laptop. It did in systems running XP. I returned the datacard and asked for refund in writing on 10 July 2009. The issue is still not solved. There is no written reply from Reliance. The local reliance store person says I should pay rental for two months, ie till 24th July 2009, as they cannot waive rental as promised. I haven’t got any refund for the returned datacard hardware.
Apart from the Vista problem, Reliance’s after sales grievance redressal mechanism is pathetic.
Mohan
August 27th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Reliance Infocomm is quick to add new service, often without your permission as has happened in my case, but canceling a service from them is almost impossible.
Frankly I have serious concerns about their ethics or lack of it to be precise.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Think twice if you want to go with reliance. You must remember customer is not 1st priority at Reliance.
They can bill the way they want, they can stop service any time with out notification.
Service may not work correctly as described.
You can not do any thing against all these.
I am current subscriber of Reliance Netconnect+
Yes, it is very good broadband (wireless) for real IT business person but at cost and mercy of Reliance.
When I purchased this I was promised with top up package of Rs.199 per month for unlimited night internet access (that is 10 GB data transfer). But that top up package was available to me after three month. Imagine if you are using 3.1MBPS connection 2.5GB or 5GB per month will make enough sense. During package upgrade and getting top up package I end up paying Rs. 5000 to Rs 10000 per month.
On and off any time I found I am not able to connect then I use to contact reliance, then I found I need to pay usage charges since my credit limit has reached then only I will be able to access again. Some time this happen twice or thrice a month. There was no notification in this regard and usage reporting system of reliance Oh my God, it is from technology company. You need to calculate to figure out and many time you will not be able to access reports.
I am currently on national level access plan. I was out for a meeting in another city and found there I was not able to connect net (it was a big problem). While I was coming back I was not able to connect from anywhere near Delhi aprrox. 40 KM to 250 KM. I contacted Reliance customer care they told those place high speed is not available in will be low speed only. I told them I was try that too but it was saying no response form remote computer. Customer care executive told me then you should have contact us at the same time, now we can not provide you solution. Whenever you see this problem that time you need to contact us. Some one ask them if some one on business meeting how will it be possible for the person to leave meeting and start getting solution from reliance.
So my experience with Reliance was always so poor and every time I found they do not have any value for customers. Earlier was having 1X CDMA data card and mobile from Reliance and every time I end up canceling.
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Reliance Net Connect+ plus and Tata Photon+ are from the two majors of Indian industries, and, pathetically they both “SUCKS”. Anil could see apart from his Oil owes and Tata can see through NANO. With the kind of Money you people swindle I get better fuel from SHell and I will buy a better car that doesn’t Suck. For others who are reading this stick with Mtnl/Bsnl.
September 23rd, 2009 at 6:52 pm
I strongly recommend not to buy Tataindicom Photon +. The connection is very slow. Not at all worth. My tataindicom Wimax connection 256kps unlimted works faster than photon +. all guys out there Photon+ is just an waste of 3600 rs…
September 28th, 2009 at 8:40 am
hei i want 2 but a data plan can any1 help me which 1 should i but which comes with g8 speed & low monthly rentals ….plez help me guys
October 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Does Tata Photon show the list of visited websites on the bill if it’s a post-paid connection?
I don’t really need my parents to find out certain things, haha.
October 6th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
I have been using reliance since last month. so far my experience has been good except some nonesence act for frontline executive from reliance store, though they activated my number within 30 minutes of purchase.
as far as speed is concerned the maximum till date i got is 2.89MBPS(on speedtest.net) and 2407 kbps(transfer rate 301 kbps DL and 59 KBPS UL) on whatismyip.com.
on the billing side, I have been keeping a watch on my uses and I found that there is no discripencies. you can check your daily uses and keep a track of peak and offpeak uses. the best way to keep it under control is use the average data transfer per day. I use 3GB Day + 10 GB Night and my average comes to roughly 100 MB per day plus 333 MB Night use. I think if you dont download much music and movies, you will never be able to exhaust it. for example in the 12 days of 1st billing I could have used 1200 MB day plus 4 GB night , but for my surprise the total I used is 1100 MB and , yes, I used the net for 65 hours in these days, an average of 5.5 hours a day. that means in the last two three days of billing cycle I could have used 4 GB( the total unused data) and downloaded three four brillint movies like TEARS OF THE SUN. so I mean to say if you genuinely research and decide about the plan you want and later keep a constant wathc on your uses (twice a week), I dont think there is any probs. I have kept even the screenshot of my plan details and account details in case there is any discripenciy from reliance side. AND FINALLY IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO GET ALL THE THING DONE FROM A WEB WORLD OR RELIANCE STORE RATHER THROUGH CUSTOMER CARE, reson being you deal with the same person at web world, you can be in touch with Cluster head, even senior most people and all the physical proof is with you where as in the case of CUSTOM CARE, every time you call there is new person. Only if you are very lucky, you find the same guy. SO GUYS, IF YOU ARE LITTLE ATTENTIVE BEFORE GOING FOR A PLAN, I DONT THINK THERE WILL BE PROBLEM. Reliance Net connect is far better than TATA Photon plus. I cant paste all the docs here but if any body needs suggestion and help in this regard can call me on 9312479600.
October 18th, 2009 at 11:51 am
TATA Photon + is REALLY BAD. The device got deactivated with in the first month due to incorrect billing!! and they never started it even when I paid the whole amount. Customer Care is as clueless as a 2nd standard kid would be about differential Mathematics..so no point calling them and talking to them. They continued billing me even while my phone was deactivated. I now use my cell phone’s BSNL GPRS to connect my laptop while roaming.. this has given me better speed and is cheaper than TATA’s Photon+ …Totally ruins the TATA brand name!!
October 20th, 2009 at 6:35 am
I dont know about Relaince but, Tata photon is the worst as per my experience.
October 24th, 2009 at 1:22 am
Dear Reader,
The service of Tata Indicom is really very poor regarding change of address, How there customer care work , even gods doen’t know. If you want to talk to their nodalofficer,their excutive do not allow you to talk to them.At last I had disconnect the Connection with Tata indicom ,but not able to get change of address from them.
So Please do’t accept any service from them,before getting the connection.
Regards,
October 30th, 2009 at 8:26 am
sir i wanted to know in which cities and towns both the tata photon plus and reliance broad band work in karnataka.
October 30th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
I own a Tata USB photon whiz modem that offers rather slow speeds. So I am thinking of switching over to the Tata Photon + broad band.As is clear the photon+ stands out both in terms of connectivity and speed. is it possible, to convert photon whiz modem into photon+
or i have to purchase seperate photon+.
October 31st, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Speed of reliance may be batter but the hidden agreement is bad.I subscribed reliance data card No.9357302555 for unlimited and first two months free.But Now they sent a bill of 2401Indian rupees and changed my plan to a limited plane.There is no justice in reliance office and only arguments.Public relation is so poor and unprofessional that no body will tolerate.