Today – 16/02/2010, MTNL has upgraded the speeds of its unlimited broadband plans. It seems to be doubling broadband speeds every six months.

These are the new tariff rates for the new Broadband plans.

MTNL Triband Tariff Plans – 16/02/2010

Triband 512 KBPS Unlimited –  Rs. 599
Triband 752 KBPS Unlimited – Rs. 749
Triband 1 MBPS Unlimited –  Rs. 999
Triband 1.34 MBPS Unlimited – Rs. 1599
Triband 2 MBPS Unlimited – Rs. 3999
Triband 4 MBPS Unlimited – Rs. 9999

Awesome! Who said PSUs in India can’t be competitive. Suck on it, Airtel and Reliance. Muhahaha!

MTNL Triband Tariff Plans

Airtel

The Airtel Net PC is powered by Microsoft and Nivio Companion. It runs a customized build of Windows XP which connects to a backend Linux-based server and provides access to various applications and storage through Nivio Companion. The Airtel Net PC will be available at Airtel outlets for Rs. 7999 for Airtel broadband customers in Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida. It comes with 10 GB online storage and Microsoft Office Premium.

Airtel Net PC Plans:

Airtel Net PC : Rs. 7999
Airtel Net PC Without Monitor: Rs. 4999

It comes in 3 flavors:

Home – Rs. 699 / month
- 256 Kbps Broadband
- 3 GB data transfer cap
- 10 GB online storage
- Microsoft Office Standard

Professional – Rs. 899 / month
- 256 Kbps Broadband
- 3 GB data transfer cap
- 10 GB online storage
- Microsoft Office Standard with Admin rights

Business – Rs. 1199 / month
- 256 Kbps Broadband
- 3 GB data transfer cap
- 10 GB online storage
- Microsoft Office Premium with Admin rights

In my opinion, all the 3 plans are total bullshit! A 3 GB data transfer limit is just ridiculous. When all your data is in the cloud, 3 GB can vanish into thin air in a matter of days, even for the most basic users. Airtel seriously needs to roll out some Unlimited plan if it hopes to make this a success.

More details to be updated soon.

Monthly charges for both Prepaid and Postpaid customers, exclusive of tax-

.

The Unlimited plan for Rs. 3000 is a god send. For most users, even the Rs. 650 plan would easily suffice. Just hoping MTNL learns a thing or two about fair pricing from BSNL and that Airtel, Vodafone or Reliance jump into the 3G game soon. Hopefully, the 3G spectrum auctions will be done by March 31st and we will have affordable 3G soon.

You can check out more details of the BSNL 3G plans here – BSNL 3G Plans.

Note: It seems that the current 2G enabled SIMs won’t be compatible with 3G. You will have to buy a new SIM for Rs. 300. Whether you can shift your existing number to the 3G plan isn’t clear yet.

EDIT: BSNL has also started offering 3G in these cities – Agra, Dehradun, Jammu, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Lucknow, Shimla, Patna, Ranchi, Haldia, and Durgapur. And I thought Mumbai was supposed to be the technological hub of India.

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.

New MTNL Triband Unlimited Plans:

Triband 256 KBPS Unlimited – Rs. 999
Triband 512 KBPS Unlimited – Rs. 1599
Triband 1 MBPS Unlimited – Rs. 3999
Triband 2 MBPS Unlimited – Rs. 9999

While it still isn’t as cheap as MTNL Delhi, it is a good start.

I will be shifting on to the 256K UL plan soon, my current 849 NU plan has almost transformed me into a complete insomniac. And most of the times, the net conks off at nights when I plan to download stuff to sate my movie hunger. Finally, a good start to 2009.

Woohoooo!!