Thread: Airtel - No more Unlimited Plan !!

Originally Posted by samratskr

I think this is good news from TRAI ....!!!

New Delhi (PTI): Expressing concern at the poor quality of Internet access and broadband speed, regulator TRAI on Monday asked Internet service providers and telecom operators to ensure availability of the minimum required bandwidth in their network to improve the standard.

Releasing the guidelines, TRAI today said operators must ensure availability of the minimum required bandwidth in their network as per the maximum contention ratio suggested by the regulator for different services based on the number of customers.

The contention ratio (number of users competing for the same bandwidth) is a tool to ensure availability of minimum bandwidth in service providers' network based on the number of subscribers and it can improve the quality of service.

"There have been complaints from the subscribers regarding inadequate broadband speed being provided by the ISPs. Most of the complaints allege that the available broadband speed is lower than the subscribed speed," it added.

Non-availability of the subscribed speed at the user’s end hinders the performance of applications run by them and in turn restricts the utility of broadband connection.


link - hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200903021764.htm

maybe it is... but can't get our hopes up.

Originally Posted by samratskr

I think this is good news from TRAI ....!!!

New Delhi (PTI): Expressing concern at the poor quality of Internet access and broadband speed, regulator TRAI on Monday asked Internet service providers and telecom operators to ensure availability of the minimum required bandwidth in their network to improve the standard.

Releasing the guidelines, TRAI today said operators must ensure availability of the minimum required bandwidth in their network as per the maximum contention ratio suggested by the regulator for different services based on the number of customers.

The contention ratio (number of users competing for the same bandwidth) is a tool to ensure availability of minimum bandwidth in service providers' network based on the number of subscribers and it can improve the quality of service.

"There have been complaints from the subscribers regarding inadequate broadband speed being provided by the ISPs. Most of the complaints allege that the available broadband speed is lower than the subscribed speed," it added.

Non-availability of the subscribed speed at the user’s end hinders the performance of applications run by them and in turn restricts the utility of broadband connection.


link - hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200903021764.htm

This is the reason, Airtel has come up with these CAP's

I'm completely outraged at this move by Airtel. This is what I have done so far. Urge members in this forum to do the same, if not something even more drastic :-)

1. Mail - I've mailed to sbm@bharti.com (Sunil Mittal, Chairman), ceo.direct@bharti.com, manoj.kohli@bharti.com (CEO, Bharti Airtel), atul.bindal@bharti.com (CEO, Bharti Telemedia, the subsidiary that offersbroadband services), the following mail:

***
Subject: The brilliance of speed rationalization!

Hello Gentlemen!

As a long time and loyal customer of Airtel, I’m disgusted to see this letter about speed rationalization. I do not want Airtel to tell me how to use my internet connection, particularly when I have opted for an unlimited plan and at a particular speed. Airtel, among other broadband service providers in India are already fleecing customers by not giving the actually mentioned speed and throw at us reduced speeds on an average. At least, Airtel was reliable. Not any more.

To show my outrage, I’ve signed the online petition here at, afup.******************/ against Airtel.

I’ll also,

- ensure that I bad mouth and discourage anyone asking me EVER about Airtel. And to think I got Airtel as the only, official, broadband provider in my apartment. Huge mistake.
- will continue using my 2 broadband connections, 2 landlines and 2 mobile connections till I get decent alternatives. I’ll pay you guys and burn the modem given to me in front of my apartment.
- blog about this unfair policy thrust upon customers arbitrarily, in as many places as possible.
- ensure that I work towards making sure Airtel does not win the next buzziest brand award by afaqs. You do not deserve it next year.
- try and convert as many people as possible in my apartment of 133 flats to move out of the Airtel brand. Even if I convert at least 10 people, I’ll be happy.
- go to as many online forums and comment about Airtel and their unfair practices.
- given your massive advertising spends, I don't think I can get any media to write about this dumb 'fair use' policy, but I'll give it a solid try.

Its not about how much I or anyone downloads. Its about how Airtel is policing what we should be downloading - I do not want guidance from my service provider on how to utilize my internet connection. I want Airtel to stay away from my life once I’ve been provided the service - I pay for it, as per your terms, remember? If I need help, I’ll ask.

Its simply like this - I subscribe for a cable connection. It includes a few channels who beam obscene stuff late in the night. And the cable company says that since that material is obscene, they'll reduce the size of the screen - so, if I have a 32" TV, the obscene parts starting 11 pm will be shown in a 12" box within my existing TV. Pretty smart fair use policy, huh?

I’m just a single customer unhappy about this update in plan - but I do hope there are more people like me - on last count, that petition has 1000+ people - I do hope it grows and causes at least a tiny dent in your revenue - you deserve to go out of business for fleecing your customers like this. Its a shame actually - till yesterday, I was an extremely satisfied customer of Airtel, recommending your broadband to everyone. From today, I’ll be against you till you reverse that absurd policy of yours, publicly.

In English, unlimited is just that - unlimited. If it has a fine print added to it now, I do not want that plan - I’ll rather go for another unlimited plan with no such fine print. If you one like that, please let me know.
We have enough problems to deal with everyday, and add to that....now this one! We're normal people, but we'll give it our best shot fighting such nonsense. Even if we lose and you do not lose anything in the process, I'll be happy that I at least fought.

2. Blog
I've blogged this mail's content in my blog, via these 2 posts -

itwofs.com/beastoftraal/2009/03/02/421/
and
itwofs.com/beastoftraal/2009/03/03/airtels-fair-usage-speed-rationalization-explained/

Karthik

Check website of airtel and tarrifs for Delhi circle. You will 749 Plan with Data Capping above 15Gb and speed of 256Kbps and then have a look at 649 Plan which also features 256 Kbps UL and not Data capping shown on website, what this means. Airtel forgo to add Data cap line in this plan

Looks like our grievances dep does something at least. I had lodged complain about Airtel two days ago and today I checked the status. Here is what came up-
Received by : Department of Telecommunications
Forwarded To : M/s.Bharti Airtel Ltd.
Address : Narendra Gupta
: Director Legal & RA
: Unitech World Cyber Floor,
: Tower-A,4th Floor, Sector-39
: Gurgaon, Haryana
: narender.gupta@airtel.in
Date of Action : 03/03/2009

Lets hope they do something.
And looks like we have another email to which we can mail.

Well i have been using the 256Kbps unlimited for quite a long time now. I have not got any info regarding limiting the plan as yet..

airtel sucks bigtime they cant provide u broadband everywhere now they have done this, the reason why airtel is good in cust service and speed is because they provide broadband in less areas.

I saw a change today in the caps for Unlimited plan .
Iam talking about 256 kbps unlimited plan ( Value Combo 799 ) for Bangalore( karnataka) .

Previously the dowload limit was - 256 kbps till 15GB, 128 kbps beyond 15GB .

Today when I checked the website I saw they have changed the download limit - 256 kbps till 50GB, 128 kbps beyond 50GB

Originally Posted by samratskr

I saw a change today in the caps for Unlimited plan .
Iam talking about 256 kbps unlimited plan ( Value Combo 799 ) for Bangalore( karnataka) .

Previously the dowload limit was - 256 kbps till 15GB, 128 kbps beyond 15GB .

Today when I checked the website I saw they have changed the download limit - 256 kbps till 50GB, 128 kbps beyond 50GB

well now 50gb is not so bad... even though i think its still not been implemented in the delhi circle

Yeah, verified for AP also.
Need to call them and confirm.

Though this is not exactly what we want, but its good - Airtel understood the mistake it made.

some reaction from the airtel hate posts scattered all over the internet at last!

Hey guys i am super pissed by Airtel as is for what the F they have done regarding Airtel Unlimited plans

I have a major question for u guys here....

i have a airtel connection in New Delhi and its freaking brilliant the customer care and stuff is EXCEPTIONAL ... if any probs you just make a call it gets fixed within 3 hours... 3 people call you first the technician then customer care asking if the technician has called u then after the problem is been fixed customer care calls u again asking how was the tech and stuff i cannot stop talking about their mother off all brilliant customer care.

Now the question,

I am basically from bombay and now shifting to a new place in bombay. ( WORK IN DELHI )
How is the customer care in Bombay and should i get Airtel or go for MTNL

I have no probs with the unlimited plans as my parents don't use any unlimited plans basically for just checking emails and stuff.

but i am thinking of getting the 256 unlimited with 50gb plan which turns to 128 after 50gb so that we can video chat .

money is not the thing...only thing is the customer service.

what do you guys think? MTNL or AIRTEL

I have a question about the capping...

is the 50gb/mo only for Download or is it the total transfer done (download and upload)? This is very important for those using Torrents a lot...

Originally Posted by dkking

I have a question about the capping...

is the 50gb/mo only for Download or is it the total transfer done (download and upload)? This is very important for those using Torrents a lot...

its download + upload < 50GB. s i know it sucks

Guys any suggestion for me ... should i go for MTNL or AIRTEL .. i have no idea about both of them

i am more concerned with customer service.

Originally Posted by buBleZ

its download + upload < 50GB. s i know it sucks

I am not sure its for both. Because its not mentioned on the website.

why don't you guys go to the consumer court and take action against these unjust policies?

still airtel offers some unlimited plans like
combo 749
combo 799
combo 899
which offers speed more that 256kbps

I think Airtel has withdrawn Fair Usage Policy from Home 649 and Value Combo 899 both with 256 Kbps UL. As previously it was mentioned with Data Transfer Capping and now it has been removed.

And Airtel on large scale putting up advertisement of Home 649 all over Delhi Last week. I think Our Mails to TRAI has shown some results. But the capping is still there on 512 Kbps UL of 100 Gb

i had a talk with customer care guys, they assured me there is no fair usage policy for 799 unlimited(256kbps). anything above this has a cap. he also told me that there is a limit untill a few days back in Feb, but they have withdrawn it. good thing someone actually listened to all our calls

what about 649? i guess since both plans are 256kbps they shud hav withdrawn it from both... like pisces_m (my bad) said.

Their site has withdrawn the capping from home 649 UL 256 Kbps. but will confirm from customer care and let know.

But on 256 Kbps doing more than 15Gb means you need to keep your system up all the time. Do you download more than that StarryKnight

Originally Posted by pisces_m

Their site has withdrawn the capping from home 649 UL 256 Kbps. but will confirm from customer care and let know.

But on 256 Kbps doing more than 15Gb means you need to keep your system up all the time. Do you download more than that StarryKnight

yes i guess this month i will be downing more than 15 gbs after a looong time pisces ... naah i don't keep it on all the time. rarely crosses 24 hours before a switch off period.

Originally Posted by pisces_m

Their site has withdrawn the capping from home 649 UL 256 Kbps. but will confirm from customer care and let know.

But on 256 Kbps doing more than 15Gb means you need to keep your system up all the time. Do you download more than that StarryKnight

Bro I download almost 80 GB / month and upload probably 60 to 80 GB/month ,
15 GB means that I could use an unlimited connection only for surfing the internet , are u freaking crazy or what ??? :16: , U dont need to keep your machine on all 24hrs , 12 hrs is more than enough to cross the 15 GB limit with ease .

Ok Ok Everybody has their own needs. I know you can download a lot on a 256Kbps line also. I was just asking.

But you should be happy that airtel withdrew the capping, customer care also told me they have withdrwan fair usage policy