MTNL launched 3G in Delhi officially, on Feb 5, yesterday. So finally 2 years after the USA and many other countries, we have 3G atleast in one city in India. Time to rejoice…? No!
MTNL has priced 3G services so exorbitantly high, that no one except the upper echelon of society will be able to use it. So much for the talk about bringing mobile internet to the masses.
The 3G Jadoo service by MTNL is priced as (MTNL 3G Tariff Rates):
- One Time Activation Charge – Rs. 500
- Monthly 3G Rental – Rs. 599
- 3G Data Monthly Service Charges – Rs. 149. (Still not sure what it means.)
- Download Charges – Rs. 5 / MB
You can check out the detailed tariffs here – http://mtnldelhi.in/dolphin/tariff_3g.htm
These rates are complete BULLSHIT. After paying Rs. 599 / Month, you still have to pay Rs. 5 / MB for downloads. 99% Indians can’t even afford the basic rental, the per MB download charges are just killing. What’s the use of having a 3.5 MBPS download speed, if you can’t download enough without getting bankrupt.
Currently, I’m using the Airtel NOP plan, Rs 2 / day for unlimited downloads. The speed is decent – around 10 kBps and net around 3-4 GB a month with moderate downloads. MTNL 3G would cost me Rs. 599 + 5*4000 = Rs. 20599. Not to say, that if the speed is actually 3.5 MBPS, one would normally download much more. There is no unlimited plan, even, for say Rs. 5000. Even that would be relatively acceptable (Not really).
Sorry to say, but this plan sucks. I’m hoping Airtel or Reliance roll out 3G / EVDO soon and give us better and competitive pricing with atleast one reasonable unlimited plan.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Holy shit. Rs.5 per MB? That’s fucking outrageous! We can expect the same for Mumbai. 3G Jadoo indeed. This plan is not for earthlings.
Die MTNL. BH*****D!
February 6th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Haha. Indeed.
February 7th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Delhi always rocks, MTNL will have to reduce the charges atleast one time charge
February 7th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Its really ridiculous to have no unlimited plans and giving rs 5/mb..what do they thick? aare we a kind of billionaire..this is going to b a complete flop, if mtnl will not introduce unlimited plans
February 7th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
I think u r rt that the plan they have given is just an introductory plan and these r going to change when the spectrum is allocated to the private players.
For Private players to enter it will take a while because the spectrum allocation will take a while after it any operator will take at least 6 months to launch the service
February 16th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
The prices are really heavy — 599+500+149 = Rs.1248 for the first month + additional data charges @ Rs.5/MB! Who’s gonna buy! They will lower the prices only when competitors enter!
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:19 pm
[...] So finally, BSNL has also rolled out 3G in Chennai. The 3G data plans are superb, atleast compared to MTNL’s 3G plans in Delhi. [...]
May 15th, 2009 at 11:33 am
[...] MTNL has launched the 3G Jadoo service in Mumbai today, May 15, 3 months after it was launched in Delhi. (MTNL 3G Plans – Delhi) [...]
April 23rd, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Well,, these are tricks to restrict the use of 3g sservice to make it exclusively chargeble..so god dam to this M> F>c>u.k companies…
May 26th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
inse achi to aircel ki scheme hai