India Broadband Forum

Creamkan

I'm running a Browsing Centre in Bangalore and am using BSNL's Business 3000 Plan which allows 20 GB Data usage per month. The speed has been pretty good and my customers are really happy about it. Since 1 Year I'm using this connection and I'm somehow able to manage within 20GB limit. But with the growing customers, I'm sure that I may not be able to manage with this plan without compromising the speed. I'm using Net limiter to reduce the speed so that customers may not be able to download a lot. But still with growing customers, I may have to limit the speed to unpleasant limits if I have to manage the data usage per month which may interrupt even normal browsing apart from downloads, which will be a setback to my business as it (speed) was the main reason for attraction to my customers. Also it is really tedious to control usage when it is not in my control (depends on how customers use it). I think controlling net usage is possible only by individual or family. Sometimes I'm forced to disable flash (video) to manage my usage which angers the customers.

Is there any other plan in BSNL which allows unlimited data usage per month (I mean for multi-user connection like browsing centre). I'm ready to pay even Rs.4000+ if so. But main thing is speed (not the data-transfer speed, but the connectivity) should not differ much. I have seen a plan in BSNL for business which is unlimited and same speed (2Mbps), but it mentions single-user (So I cannot use it for browsing centre?)

I don't have Airtel network in my locality and the only other network available here is Tata Indicom which I hear is not so good. I heard from one my friends that somebody is running a browsing center with two Airtel connections of 512 kbps + Unlimited usage, which is giving the same speed and connectivity as mine for 8 PCs. And the price is below Rs. 4000 for two connections! Alas, I don't have Airtel here.

So what do you suggest me? Is there any option for cutting only file-download speed for users while normal-browsing is uninterrupted (net-limiter cuts speed based on system and application).

Appreciate any help..

meetdilip

Click here for the list of all available plans and tariff from BSNL

mickey

I Dont use any 4k+ plan as speed a satisfactory to my customers..

Creamkan

I can see under Unlimited Business Plan, Multi-user starts from Rs. 9,000 (which is beyond my budget. Of course I can think of it in future if my monthly income from browsing centre crosses Rs. 30,000 per month. I always work hard to give best to my customers). The lower plans are mentioned as single-user. Does it mean only for one user. Can't I use a switch and share that connection? 3300 would be ideal for me, if it serves. 256 kbps is enough if it gives same connectivity. I can even think of 6000 in near future.

superprash2003

you could use a switch and share!!

Creamkan

Thanks for the reply. Just want to know whether I can use this Connection (Unlimited 3300 plan) for browsing center. I know a switch can divide connection (that's what I'm doing now). Just want to know whether I can use this plan for sharing (because on their tariff it mentions "single user". What does that mean?) I hope the sharing is possible both "technically" and "legally".

If its possible, what is the difference in speed and connectivity? (It says 256 kbps. Would it be alright to share it with 8 PCs)?

hplp20

Sad. 512Kbps unlimited for Home is just Rs.1350.

Indranil

Creamkan if you switch to Unlimeted Plan then remember the speed you are currently getting it will reduce to 32KBps for 256kbps Plan and 64KBps for 512kbps Plan while you are cutrrent getting 220KBps for upto 2mbps. I dont think this will good for your coustomear when you say " But main thing is speed should not differ much " You cant devide speed by using the switch. If all your computer browsing the net same time and you are using the Plan 256kbps then the browsing speed will affect. I think it's better to use the Business 4000 where you get the Download/ Upload limit 27GB and the speed is 1 Mbps/ Upto 8 Mbps plus multiuser which is mutch better then the you are currently getting.
Try for this Business 4000 Plan for 2 or 3 months then cheak is it any better from your current Plan or not.

Creamkan

Thanks Indranil

You are dividing the speed (256 kbps) by 8 (8 computers) and hence 32 kbps right? If that is the case, then I have no problem (if each user gets maximum 32). Because, I usually limit the speed to 16 kbps (through Netlimiter software) even in the current 3000 plan. Otherwise (if I don't limit the speed through software), then my customers can easily download around 100 to 150 MB in 1 Hour (If such download savvy customers arrive), if I give them full speed. I experienced this in the beginning. Hence I have been limiting the speed! So, in actuality, I'm limiting the speed to 16 kbps (while browsing, the speed rises a bit to 30, 40 or even 60 for short time and then controls back to 16, that's how netlimiter works. So when a file-download or video-streaming is stabilized, the speed will be limited to below 16). So, if the 256 kbps plan is giving me double than this (32 instead of 16), then it is beneficiary to me! While limiting to 16 kbps, some of my download-savvy customers do complain, but others are still satisfied!

So I want to know whether this 256 unlimited plan gives the same connectivity compared to 3000 plan? Without limiting the speed, it is impossible to control 20GB limit for a month at 2 Mbps speed.

I also want to know whether it is technically and legally possible to use Business 3300 unlimited plan for a browsing center (Unfortunately all the ones whom I know in my surrounding don't seem to be using any BSNL connection for browsing center. They only talk about unlimited tata indicom and airtel connections, and are surprised at how I'm managing with a limited account). I'm worried at that mentioning of SU and MU on that BSNL site. Does it really mean that only one connection (one PC) has to be established for SU Plan?

To add:

I can't charge my customers based on usage (data). They don't agree. It is based on time only (Rs. 15 per hour). So, if I give them full speed, certainly my usage goes beyond 20GB, and according to my rough estimate the usage may cross 30 or even 40GB, which would mean Rs. 10,000+ on the BSNL bill, which is affordable by a charity and not by a businessman.

So, I'm in a tight position to do something about this (switching to some better plan). But I really appreciate BSNL's connectivity and speed. I don't want to move from BSNL to other network.

I also understand that while sharing a 512 or some connection, the speed gets divided randomly and each PC might get affected with this (Some may get more speed and some less). So, I'm using netlimiter paid software specifically for this (dividing and limiting the speed equally). So even if I go for a 256 kbps connection, I can divide & control under 32 for each node. Just want to know about multi-user options and technical feasibility.

panchabhut

32 KBps = 32 kilo Bytes per sec
32 kbps = 32 kilo bits per sec
1 Byte = 8 bits

hence 256 kbps = 32 KBps

bandwidth is always measured in kbps but download is always measured in KBps.

If you divide 256 kbps bandwidth among 8 users, each will get maximum average download speed of 4 KBps. (i.e. 32 KBps / 8)

Creamkan

Oh! Thanks for the clarifications. Now I have understood the facts. With my plan, I'm actually using up to 1024 kbps (not kBps) which is like 16 kBps X 8 = 128 kbps X 8 computers = 1024 kbps. So effectively I'm using 1 Mbps (out of 2 Mbps I'm granted with). Which means that I don't need that extra 1 Mbps actually. But the plan for 1 Mbps unlimited connection says Rs. 9,000+ Instead of that I can stick to this 3000 plan and continue trying limit below 20GB usage per month and pay nominal additional usage charges sometimes.

Do you suggest anything else? I'm only worried about my friends who tell that they are getting same type of speed & connectivity with some unlimited plans in other networks (especially Airtel) for same amount (Rs. 4,000 per month). But still I know that BSNL is better than Airtel or any other network.

Indranil

There is no other option to tell you. Only you can change to Business 4000 and test it for 2 or 3 monthts whether it is good for you or not. If not then switch back to your old Plan. And about the SU and MU, I dont think it is important. I see almost all Cybercafe in my state run with UL 750 Home and UL 1350 Home plan. I dont see any problem from it here with legally or illegally.
If you really want to UL plan then I think try with 512Kbps which is 1350 permonth I mean the Home plan. From 512kbps you can get 64KBps speed. Then your 8 computer if all computer is on and browsing at the same time then gets 8KBps per computer.
Otherwise there is only option with Business 4000.

meetdilip

BSNL may introduce new plans shortly. When ? I don't know, but till then choose a good plan from the list in post # 2. For your information

256 Kbps = 256/8 = 32 KBps

panchabhut

that is 100% illegal.

mickey

Creamkan

Thanks for all the inputs. I will stick to my current plan for some more time. I will also check about the other plans (home). I can even take 2 connections of UL1350 which serves my purpose. But I have heard that it is illegal. What about these home connections? Do they really have the same connectivity and speed like Business connections?

Also I want to know about this mentioning of SU, MU for only business connections (absent in home plans)? Are the routers for Business connections designed so as to restrict Single/Multi user (even though if we use switch to divide)? Or is it only about legality?

Is Tata Indicom (which is the only other ISP in my area) any reliable? Does it have any interesting plan?

meetdilip

Home plans are same as domestic plans. Try it at your own risk. If found out, you may be penalized.

Creamkan

Apart from getting penalized I don't even want to do something illegal. But just wanted to know whether I have a better option than what I'm using now within legal, technical and financial limits.

Please clarify about SU & MU Options in Business Plans. Are the routers designed in such a way that the connection cannot be shared with a switch?

meetdilip

I don't think so. Routers are the same which you get for domestic connection. You can divide a SU connection to more than one computer, but at the cost of speed. MU plans offer same speed to more than one user.

Creamkan

Interesting! MU plan means that each user (computer) gets full speed even if the connection is shared by a switch? In my setup, I have the main DSL line coming to router which is taken to a switch and then to all 8 computers. I have observed that the downloads happen to reach 250 kB sometimes on more than one computer (which is relevant to my plan - 2 mbps) even while other computers are connected. Alternatively, In SU plan, do they configure the router such that this (2 mbps) gets divided? Please clarify.

Also I don't need this "full speed" actually, as I'm anyhow controlling the speed to 16 kbps for each comp. So, I actually need this SU Plan only if at all SU/MU definitions mean like what you said.

Also I want to know whether Business Connections offer Night Unlimited by any chance as in Home Plans?