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BSNL To Offer 2 Mbps Speed For Broadband; Government To Declare 2007 As “Year Of Broadband”

India’s largest telco Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) plans to provide a speed of up to 2 mbps for its broadband subscribers, says a report in Myiris.com. This was stated by Communication and IT Minister, Dayanidhi Maran. And all those who are using 256 kbps connection currently can migrate to the improved speed at no extra cost. Nor will they have to change their consumer premise equipment.
Maran also announced that the government is declaring the year 2007 as the “Year of Broadband” in India. He also said that it’s now upto the private operators to match the BSNL challenge. Currently no telco is offering more than 1 mbps for home users.
On a personal note, I am using a Reliance Broadnet connection for my internet, and their monthly bill seems to be exorbitantly high. For 2GB download (their speed is 1 mbps), I paid Rs 3,000 last month. That’s hell a lot of money, and I am looking at a change. Airtel has not reached my apartment. How about MTNL or Tata Broadband? I tried calling Sify Broadband, but they don’t even pick up the phone, let alone give you a connection (so I am wary of them). Any suggestions and any good plans?

Sahad PV Dec 15, 2006 10:30 PM ET
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Posted In: Technologies / Formats, Broadband

  • srijan

    i have problem with my bsnl data card connecntion it always run at 55kbps maximum an its downloading speed is 4kbps maximum please send some tips to my e-mail address to make my connection to work at 2mbps my connection number is 2116203

  • http://bsnl-data-card.blogspot.com/

  • Deva

    hi, i am living inn Qatar, my family is in Ramanathapuram dist they want high speed unlimited broadband in bsnl i am ready to pay yearly 10,000rupees can i get the details of payment and everything about this to my email and also customer services phone number in ramanathapuram the main purpose is chat and use webcam without struck

  • amit jain

    when is this card going to be launched in pune maharastra

  • Din

    Sujith, you are wrong

    New website dedicated to BSNL ! I just completed it.

    Please have a look - http://bsnldatacard.com

    There are no banners, no google ads and no referral links. There is no commercial / business / personal interest behind this website. I found the BSNL data card to be useful and affordable, so thought I will help others by providing the details based on my experience.

    Please leave your comments/suugestions/criticism either here in the thread or in the website.

    Thank you all.

  • sujith

    No BSNL is not providing data card.I am using BSNL broadband.Nobody gives such a good broadband.Airtel, Reliance and Tata are very costly and compared to speed private operators cant come nearby this

  • eh

    Upgrading to 2 MBPS and keeping download restrictions is at best a halfhearted attempt to improve India's dismal internet situation. At worst it will lead unsuspecting people to massive net bills.  Give someone a sports car, a tankful of petrol, an open autobahn and then ask them not to exceed 25 km/h.

    Net providers really think we are all fools to be under-served and taken advantage of.

  • Zeeshan

    BSNL and MTNL provide best &  cheaper broadband   services in India.
    Airtel, Reliance, Tata will cost you more than BSNL.
    You can visit www.bsnl.co.in

  • Does anyone know if BSNL is offering any data card for laptops?

  • Freebird

    Alright, now it tells me that my speed is "upto 2 mbps" but I'm still receiving the old 256 kbps speed. And I'm on UL 900. What the hell is happening? Was it just a sham to fool us UL900 users?

  • rajdeep

    sahad,close your eyes and go for bsnl.i am bsnl 900plus user.no telecom service in india can match bsnl.

  • MTNL "up to 2Mbps" has happened for me, at least. The downside is that they have reduced upstream to 256kbps. Have put in a complaint at 1504…let's see what they do about it.

  • sandeep

    Everyone wants to know where to get better software,etc.Its about infra,not about s/w
    I get 512 kbps from starhub (m T and interstent service provider)at SD$ 30 p.m.Also singtel and starhub have 100 mpbs speed already in place in hotels and the likes ad have planned 1GB download speed by 2012-and make TV + be a natural partner for intermet.So watch out broadcasters and MSO's and DTH and etc.The telecoms are coming at ya.

    So India ake up and smell the coffee…while you stuggle at 64 kbps at exborbitant rates…the world 3 hours away is on a different planet.All I read is hype and sloganeering every year…all english words and nothing of substance

    sandeep

  • I use Reliance data card whenever I go out. It's pretty slow. What I have heard is Tata's data card is decent. But not sure.

  • shobha

    Hi guys,

    can anyone suggest me whether Airtel data card is good enough to use??I am tired of getting connection from BSNL, tata indicom. None of them have connection near my home.
    So i am left with Airtekl data card. How is the speed of data card??

    Cheers,
    Shobha

  • Gowrishankar P

    For Home 900 and Home 900 Plus.. speed will not be upgraded .. that is a very bad news.
    visit this link for further details
    http://chennai.bsnl.co.in/News/BBSTariff010107.htm

  • sha kerla

    This is true . iam using BSNL dataone connection at 256 kbps(Home 500 plan) for a year .  my speed is now automatically changed to 2 mbps. that is very intresting thanx to bsnl for giving high speed at a lower rate .

  • B

    Satya ... is it bsnl or mtnl? and where are you located?

  • Satya

    from 29december 2mbps has started!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    on 29th morning i just connected at 6:30 in morning and got 220kbps for my home 500 plan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I downloaded almost 1.5 gb till 8:00 am

  • Freebird

    Okay, I have BSNL Home 900 plan which is 256 kbps unlimited download. Will I be upgraded automatically on the 1st? Is what Sandeep stated confirmed? Anyone have a link? Also, do I have to call up customer service to upgrade or will it be automatic?

    Thanks.

  • neo

    plan 500 is far more better than the unlimited plan because you can download 4-5gb within the night unlimited hour.

  • Spiderman India

    Rats ! It sucks if the unlimited plans do not get the automatic upgrade.

  • Sahad, no 2Mbps for MTNL unlimited plans. The plethora of data cap options is really mind boggling. With all service providers.

  • Finally I got myself an MTNL connection today. Its 256 kbps unlimted for Rs 949. The service seems to be good - at least on day one. I am think of knocking of my Reliance connection now.
    I am waiting for Maran's promised 2 Mbps.

  • Jayant

    It aint for people on unlimited plans, atleast in case of MTNL

  • dami dius

    It is good to hear this news.I am using bsnl unlimited plan now.I WOULD LIKE TO GET MY HANDS ON THIS AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.2MBPS wow!!!!

  • S.N.Vaish

    What are the softwares working on compression as to reduce the downloading charges?Are such softwares downloadable?

  • Shahnawaz Sayyad

    This is a much needed broadband upgrade which will further fuel the dotcom market. And lets hope that 2mbs braodband cap becomes a norm for everyone rather than an exception.

  • I have switched to Tata Braodband from Sify & i find it much better compared to shared sify connection with same price.

  • manoj

    its best service of boradband while it providing 256 kbps download upto 1gb @ 900 for home users.. speed is too gud.

  • I do have a Reliance data card, and use it only when I am on the move. I find it damn slow. I have heard that Tata's data card is better.
    I think there is still a huge gap in the access business, and it seems nobody is filling it in the right way.
    Airel's offer of 256 kbps unlimited download for Rs 900 a month seems to be the best as of now. But they haven't reached everywhere. Can't they at least the cover the entire metros?
    I am ready to pay Rs 1,500 a month for 512 kbps unlimted. Is anyone offering such service in that price range?
    Jitendra, where do we get that software from?

  • dn

    In most places in India, there is no proper internet service and customer support. The only cost effective and reliable service today in my area is dialup.

  • pradeep

    your right
    sify never picks up the phone

  • pradeep

    your right sahad
    sify never picks up the phone

  • RYK

    yea right, 2MBPS maybe from 3am to 5am ... even if it does work, it'll aggravate you with the bill and with endless downtime…I made the mistake of taking the billable version of MTNL and get stuck with a Rs. 1.5 lacs bill one month…and with no recourse…now I ONLY take fixed plans

  • jitendra jog

    We have a great software that works on latest compression technology and can substantially help reduce your download charges look us up if required for a measly sum of 165 per month you can greatly contain your internet download charges

  • Maybe you can try the data card connection from Airtel or Reliance. The speed isn't great. I get around 90Kbps, but it is a lot convenient and the monthly bill hovers around the Rs.1500 mark for me. (I use internet from my house for atleast 3Hrs a day, though I don't download too much stuff. It is plain browsing.)
    The drawback is that you have to dole out a sum of Rs.4000-6000 (depending on Airtel or Reliance) for the card.

  • Santosh

    This is a great news. Can any one let us know by when they will start. Secondy I Stay at Marol, Andheri (E), Mumbai. Is this connectivity available or will be available there

  • Jai

    Let's hope the Year of Broadband triggers massive growth.
    MTNL triband rocks in Mumbai. We have tried Iqara and Reliance before, but now have 1 Mbps at home from MTNL. My wife runs chip simulations and GUIs from her California servers and it's amazing. Good customer service too after the initial installation runaround.

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