Broadband in Kerala - A look at BSNL dataone service
Many companies are now providing broadband services in Kerala. BSNL, Asianet, Reliance, etc. now provides broadband lines with speeds varying from 128kbps to 1mbps. This article summarizes my experience with BSNL broadband service(dataone).
BSNL started its broadband services sometime in 2005. Initially I was skeptical about the service. BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) is a state owned telecom company. Most of the state owned companies are notorious for their inefficiency in India. But anyway I thought I will apply for it and see what happens. Suprisingly, the broadband installation and delivery of modem took only about a week. Since then I am browsing at 256kbps with a monthly cap of 1GB. Recently I switched to the unlimited plan called UL900+ which gives free phone connection, unlimited traffic at 256kbps for a price of 900 rupees. To me this plan is a real good bargain!
Getting the service
Initially I filled up the online form. Nobody followed it up. Then I went to the BSNL office and gave an application. In a week, broadband installation was done. For changing the plan also I had to go to the office and give an application. It took 5 days to change the plan.
Reliability
Reliability is 100% for me. I never had any problem since I started using BSNL!
Speed
I am getting the promised speed of 256kbps almost all the time. This is a welcome surprise for an unlimited plan!
Customer Service
The customer care numbers provided at the BSNL website doesn't work. But if needed I can report a problem at the Trivandrum telephone customer care number - 1500 .
Yes, BSNL broadband rocks! BSNL dataone broadband is the best broadband service I have seen. I am sure there are some good guys in BSNL who are maintaining this service. Thanks Guys!
Resources
Setting up a perfect wireless broadband network at home!
http://www.vinuthomas.com/Forums.html - Forum discussing various broadband services in India.
http://10.240.89.199/webLogin.jsp - BSNL account details page (Works only in IE).
http://www.bsnl.co.in/service/dataone_tariff.htm - Take a look at various BSNL broadband plans available. I recommend Home 500 or Home UL900+
Comments
Good information. There should be more broadband connections in Kerala.
Posted by: Mallufilms | October 27, 2006 10:00 PM
I agree with you.
i am the first user of bsnl broadband in tvm.
i got the connection first since i applied for one year at a go.
now i switched to 900 UL and paid one year advance so that i get 2 months free. 240kbps is the speed.
This is really cool.
and the asianet is trying hard to make new schemes to match this.
The big issue is that only people with landline can use this. It is difficult to get landlines.(thats what colleagues say when i recommend this. So they take indicom or asianet)
Posted by: arun.t | October 29, 2006 09:05 PM
Hi ,
Thanks for the posts . I was trying to setup my dad with Internet service in Trivandrum . (I live in the US). I called AsiaNet and they quoted me Rs985 for 256kbits. Is that their competition to the 900UL from BSNL? I want AsiaNet since my father already gets cable from them . I figured the installation would be easier, just the cable modem. Does anyone have experiences to share with Asianet performance?
Thanks.
Posted by: Lukose | December 22, 2006 01:31 AM
Well I fully agree about the BSNL, it's very good. As for Asianet I took the unlimited plan of 256 kbps, but I'll have to contact them because what I'm getting now is a speed of 40 to 70 kbps not 256kbps, taking too much time to load a webpage
Posted by: john | January 7, 2007 01:35 AM
Hi,
i Applied for Broad band connection (Home plan) on Last February. The authorities told me that you will get connection with in 15 days but still now there is no response i tried the help desk number but there is no response what will i do?
Posted by: seybi | April 19, 2007 08:27 AM
In my experience,BSNL Broadband Service is the worst service I ever saw in Trivandrum.It has no reliablility and Line cuts off frequently.No reliablity it has.Also Customer Service is very worst.Employees in BSNL are really stupids.Comparing with Asianet,or Reliance or other BSNL Broadband is nothing ,but a waste of money.If BSNL goes like this one days people with destroy everythning connected with BSNL andwil give employess Kick also
Posted by: Vishnu VG | May 12, 2007 09:22 PM
Hey guys I thought BSNL 2mbps is only 250 Rs. May be not in kerela, I saw the ads in Chennai. Now that you guys are arguing in kbps, mbps is too far from you all. Well looks like I need to check it out.
Posted by: Biju | May 17, 2007 06:14 PM