Oct 30, 2013 11:20 AM
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Asianet has been offering internet services within the state of Kerala for several years. Unlike the other internet service providers in this state, Asianet offers cable-modem based internet.
All these years, I have known about them. But I decided to test the connection only recently because I was facing lots of issues with my Reliance Broadband and Tata Docomo Broadband connections.
Traditionally, Asianet runs on the DOCSIS 2.0 system. However, I decided to opt for the DOCSIS 3.0 technology. The underlying intention was plain and simple.
DOCSIS 3.0 offered better stability than the other technology because it made use of multiple downstream / upstream channels to keep the connectivity intact.
In DOCSIS 2.0, there will be only one downstream and upstream channel( this is what I had gathered from spending minimal research work).
Anyway, Asianet offered a brand new CISCO router that was compatible with the DOCSIS 3.0 technology. This was a welcome move for me because Reliance Broadband technician had installed an old and used ADSL modem in my home.
Tata Docomo Technician never came with the modem - he expected me to have a ADSL modem ready for him!
Asianet uses a web-based authentication system similar to what we see with Reliance Broadband. However, you need to keep that browser tab( used for logging in to the network) open at all of the times. Else, the connection disconnects itself.
The connection can also time-out if no data transfer happens in between your PC and the local exchange for ten minutes. I wonder why they have incorporated such measures.
In one of the reviews that I have gone through, the customer could call the Asianet service desk and increase the default time-out period for his connection from 10 minutes to 20 minutes. I have not yet tried the same, though.
The connectivity is robust - as advertised by the ISP. The speeds are more or less what they promise. In my 3 mbps connection, I get 2.7 mbps. Cannot blame the company because of the nature of the underlying technology.
Downtime is very minimal when I compare it to Reliance or Tata Docomo. If at all the connection stops working, the service desk is quite effective in fixing the connection without any delays.
As of now, Asianet infrastructure is connected to some server maintained by Airtel. In other words, Airtel is the primary bandwidth provider for this ISP.
Because of this aspect alone, I would give high ratings to the ISP. The service desk personnel are knowledgeable, likewise. They are well aware of any mild to moderate technical jargons that you present to them.
Asianet also informs the customers about possible downtimes via email / sms. The repair works usually happen during the night time( after 23: 00) only.
They also offer regular updates to the Cisco modem offered with the connection so that it will always run on the latest firmware.
Torrent users beware. Asianet throttles torrent downloads. But it has never been an issue for me. The professed already know the methods with the help of which they can bypass the throttling activities of cable-modem based ISPs.
The DOCSIS 3.0 plans are expensive. You will also have to pay 5, 000/- initially for the cable modem. Even though we make this payment for the modem, it remains a property of the ISP.
If we disconnect the connection within six months, we need to pay an additional amount of 750/- too. I am intrigued by these conditions put forward by the company.
I would heartily recommend the ISP to anyone in Trivandrum - based on my good experiences. For the record, my subscriber ID is TV87763.
