Jan 20, 2007 06:46 AM
1958 Views
Last year when I changed my job - I needed a fundoo broadband connection for the new JOB - as the deal they gave me was an option to work from home for initial 6 months, as I told them day one that we are expecting our first baby sometime in July end and I will require atleast 2 to 3 weeks off. The new boss was / is a kool guy and he agreed that they will be sending me a Laptop and a VOIP Phone to work - provided I have a good broadband connection at home to support the same.
I enquired with my lil bro who is more of a hacker than a normal internet worker, he had a BSNL Dial up at home as half of his life he spends in his office working on some 20 MBPS internet connection and just needs a dial up to survive couple of hours he stays home that too in a wake up condition. I told him to upgrade it to a unlimited broadband connection of best possible choice as company was going to bear the expense (that reminds me that I need to raise the bill for the last quarter - hurray!). And he promptly applied for 256 KBPS Unlimited download connection with BSNL - since we already had a 10 year old landline - the connection was granted pretty earlier than the expected date.
The best part was - BSNL Usually gives a one port router with an option to upgrade if you want to invest on a good router and all with lots of optios like one time buy and EMI plan wherein they will add some 100/- to your bill each month and all. The best part was our next door neighbour was a BSNL Employee and he told us to go for a single port connection and he will bring us a free of cost wireless router from his office just like that(Catch was his kid wanted a free wireless connection for himself) and we were glad to share as I work in the nights and he was going to use it in the day.
Within a week it was up and running - before even I could reach home with my machine and router it was working perfectly fine and my bro was having a ball of a time surfing half day from office and remaining half from home. I was kindda surprised by the BSNL service as they offered first 3 months access free of cost and there was no bill. Later it came to be some 900/-+ taxes. And our download was huge to say the minimum as my bro was downloading good number of movies - thanks to limewire and a couple of other download softwares he has.
The BSNL Uncleji gave us a 4 port(or more) router with Wireless slot and all. Although we didnt used the wireless option as my laptop got delayed in coming and I was working on a desktop for those 4 good months from my home. I was kindda happy to get that kind of service from BSNL in such a remote city - I am sure half of you will not be aware of the same - I was having a 256 KBPS Connection in Ujjain(MP) and it worked well - we were using two computers and one VOIP Phone - which usually ranged throughout the night and there was no voice breaks or data breaks.
Only one time we did faced the problem of net being slow at first and than finally down when it rained like hell and everything went watery in the city. Second time I faced problem was when there was a huge power failure for almost 24 hours and BSNL guys told us that all the servers are down since no power and even back up is gone for the time being - So I dont blame them for that.
Till now it is working perfectly fine - although I am back in Hyderabad but I am daily on a video call with my bro, and he seems happy to have it still installed at home.
I will recommend BSNL's Dataone Broadband to all those who want a no frill unlimited connection with no hiccups, Although I never had to talk to their customer care - thanks to our good old neighbour - a call on his cell was more than enough if we ever want anything - but I am sure even if he wouldnt have been there to help us - the story would have been same. Although that router he gifted us would have cost something like 2400/- on one time flat payment.
For a new connection when you dont even have a land line the deal with BSNL is like this - you go and fill up a form at their office - give me proof of your existence and a 100/- thats all. The day they will instal the phone they will charge you some 400-500/- bucks as installation of fone that will come in the bill - upar ka chai paani to doesnt matter with BSNL, once the line is up they will install the BroadBand connection and will again charge some 500/- bucks for Internet installation which will include the router too, with 3 different options to choose the same, sigle port router, double port router(one ethernet and one wifi) or a 4 port with wireless and all, prices are like 1200/- and 1800/- respectively, figures may change with time and city to city since its BSNL.
One more thing is that you get a incoming free landline free for life with the broadband connection. I mean there is no rent for landline once you take a up a broadband connection on the same and you pay as you call, otherwise there is no bill for the line.
Billing is never an issue with BSNL and even if you do not make payment for a couple of months they dont disconnect, as they are a Trillion rupees organisation and are not bothered about any tom dick and harry not paying them a couple of 1000's bucks. But its always good to make payments on time. THey dont have a online payment system yet but they say they are working on it.
Go for it guys.
Ratings and comments are more than welcome as always.
