I got a reply from some of the BSNL’s staffer’s; most likely PA to the CMD. Here is the mail:

This is in reference to the mail sent to CMD BSNL regarding BSNL broadband pricing.

In this regard, it is intimated that BSNL offers wide range of plan targetted at various segments of customer for its broadband service. The entry level plan is as low as Rs 250/ per month.

The plans are revised on periodic basis keeping in sync with the market trends.

Your specific query regarding “the broadband pricing works out to be exorbitant costly in the long run” may kindly be elaborated with example, as there are different plans for different downloads requirement of the customer.

My reply:

I am glad someone has bothered to reply to the email; I had practically given up all hope for resolution of a nagging problem.

You wrote:
“The entry level plan is as low as Rs 250/ per month.“

You fail to mention that this entry level plan is capped with a ludicrous 400 MB limit. 400 MB, Mr Sanjeev hardly suffices for usual browsing or even checking email. It’s good on the promotional offers and bill boards but it’s grossly violative of the Advertising Standards Council rules where by BSNL fails even to mention “conditions apply”. This is a systematic failure of the reglatory regime; most of the consumers are willing to be insulted for whatever “intellect” they might have.

You wrote:
“The plans are revised on periodic basis keeping in sync with the market trends.”

In the past 1 year, there hasn’t been a revision of the download limits nor the prices or free upgrades to higher speeds which is the norm across the world. Neither there has been any addition of value added services like online gaming or IPTV. British Telecom gives 8 mbps as entry level access; in UK the best ISP’s give 25Mbps all for less than 25 pounds which is affordable in purchasing parity terms. In Hong Kong 1Gbps has made it’s debut; in Japan 100 Mbps is the norm. South Korea (roughly the size of New Delhi) has ISP’s galore with consumers spoilt for choice. The subtext is that none of them initially started off with kbps Internet. Yet, we are a “developing country”, so we must be “happy in what Government decides” for us.

You wrote:
“Your specific query regarding the broadband pricing works out to be exorbitant costly in the long run may kindly be elaborated with example...”

This is the main thrust of the mail.

As I surf Internet primarily for information in Medicine and latest trends, I have to download a lot of audio files; power point presentations, streaming videos of live operations via real player; medical journals et al. I have had the oppurtunity to interact with various specialists online via VoIP. However, all this eats up bandwidth; much more than the allotted 1 GB. In any case, once the “free limit” is crossed, per MB of upload/download data transfer is exorbitant and smacks of monopolistic and discriminatory pricing.

Airtel at present gives 256k for Rs 1000/- WITHOUT any restrictions. From 10 pm to 6 am- the speeds are doubled. While it is ADSL technology, there have been reports that the contention ratio is 1:1 meaning thereby that effectively people are able to upload and download at the same rate. BSNL severly caps this in the ratio of 1:50 which makes is USELESS for VoIP applications. I have observed a high packet loss which means that the voice call clarity is pits.

I am MORE THAN willing to pay a higher monthly rent but minus any restrictions. Once they are removed, I am planning to shift to higher 512 k package since it would suffice my bandwidth needs.I understand that most of the broadband connections are an upgrade from the existing dial up; I am constrained by the absence of any other ISP in my area. Once I have a choice, I am willing to migrate unless BSNL gives me a compelling reason to stick on with it’s “broadband services”. The anxiety is pronounced because I need to update myself in view of my pending examinations.

Indeed, this is a severe indictment of the present set up, Mr Sanjeev. If the mainstream media decides to air the problems with the BSNL broadband, it would be a severely embarassing situation for all the concerned parties. Unfortuantely, they are far removed from reality; not given to national interests at all. I further understand that there has been a rash of disconnections from BSNL Broadband precisely from those areas where Airtel has extended it’s fixed line operations. This is a telling commentary of the services. As they say, proof of the pudding is in eating it. Similarly for the same reasons, BSNL’s Cell One Services have taken a severe hit in Punjab; for the same reasons- lack of service, customer orientation and agressive private players who are expanding capacity in the rural areas like never before.

Mr Sanjeev, I hope I have made my point clear. And elaborated enough. I wrote back to Mr Lav Gupta who unfortunately didn’t respond to any further queries.

Meanwhile, I would be grateful if you give me a clear idea whether this feedback was enough to bring about a change. There are lot of other subscribers who “suffer” at the capped limits and speeds but strangely enough refuse to speak up. Perhaps they haven’t been determined enough to pursue the matter with the top bosses of BSNL given the fact that most of the mails are not replied to or are ignored.

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Tags: Advertising, Airtel, Broadband, Broadband pricing, BSNL, BSNL Broadband, DTH, Internet, IPTV, ISP's, mainstream media, Media, Opera, TRAI, Value Added Services