Dec 29, 2010 06:35 PM
9253 Views
Tata Docomo has recently launched High speed 3G Data Services in bangalore , Very aggressive marketing with TV ads ,
I decided to try , upon a casual enquiry at the Tata 3G experience centre
I was told that the coverage of 3G in bangalore (PIN 1 to 100 ) is pretty good and I would at least get 4Mbps DL for a 7.2Mbps connection.
I signed up for a Prepaid connection and bought a USB dongle ZTE MF631 for Rs 2600 , with 5GB download for first month free.
To my surprise, I found the dongle never received 3G signal and always fell back to 2G at dismal speed , barely 4kbps downlink.
by the way I stay in south bangalore PIN 560004 (a prime Bangalore South location), where I was told by a Tata Representative that place is surrounded by 3G basestations. 4Mbps to 4kbps , realised , i was tricked.
I did a drive test around 1KM radius surrounding Southend circle , found that the Dongle gave only 1 to 1.5 Mbps DL.
What a waste of time and money , Tata Docomo did dispense a technician to my place to investigate and are in the process of proposing a solution which includes return of money, it turned out to be true , Receive signal is only -105dBm with CINR of -13dB , signal is below noise. I dont think there can be anyother solution other than
to erect a new basestation to cover the area or possibly they will ignore my complaint and wait for some more people in my area to fall for the High speed broadband and when its financially viable they might erect a new one or worse , revive a dead basestation that was supposed to cover my area.
RF planning could have been done more carefully . I am concerned , there is no try and return policy which I think is the way to go in these kind of broadband services.
