Last night i was following this discussion over at Broadbandforum.in. And it seems Airtel has put download caps on their supposedly unlimited connections. After you are finished with your quota, they throttle your speeds 
This is absolutely ridiculous! And before people try to defend by saying that speed caps are there internationally too, i say first match the kind of speeds they provide at the rates they provide it at, then talk about caps.
The restrictions are as follows
128 kbps = download limit 10 gb
256 kbps = 15 gb
384 kbps = 20 gb
512 kbps = 25 gb
Actually Airtel has withdrawn all their unlimited plans except 256kbps and 384kbps. So, now there is no way to get 512kbps or 1mbps unlimited plan.
That too these 256kbps and 384kbps unlimited plans cost Rs 100 and Rs 200 more than their earlier price respectively..
Earlier 256kbps plan was available at Rs 799 and now the same plan costs Rs 899, whereas the 384kbps plan was available for 999Rs earlier, now costs Rs1199.
let’s get this to the mainstream media and tell them how Airtel is out to screw their own customers. They won’t even flinch till someone starts talking bad about them and till the shareholders take notice.
So here are some suggestions:
* If you have a blog, then blog about this
* Join the Facebook group (there may be some issues for now about the Join link but they’ll get fixed)
* Write to all the India specific tech blogs and sites that you know of about this – Tech 2.0, Chip, TechTree, TechShout, PC World etc
* Log complaints with customer care about this and tell them that the customers were not apprised. If they use the word “TRAI” ask them for the specifics – Article, clause, URL etc of the TRAI ruling if any – just don’t let them use the word TRAI and get away with it
Some points to remember:
* We need “bandwidth huggers” who can get the best from the internet to spurn the economy in India by sharing the ideas that they find on the internet – if you can’t experience the best, how do you spread the word?
* Take the example of Miro HD Video Player | Free internet tv and video podcast player. which promotes free Internet TV with an abundance of useful information for Indian audiences
* Take the example of a household with 2-4 users of broadband on 1 Wifi connection who would use their unlimited connection for completely legitimate purposes and still hit the cap in 10-15 days
* Take the example of people who download various Linux distros via torrents to distribute them to people who don’t want to pirate a Windows and yet get a working operating system like Ubuntu for free
* Take the examples of Indian tech startups like Rajshri.com and In.com who are providing free video content on their sites to increase demand for their products and hence churn the economy
What Airtel is doing goes against all of the above. Yes, we might have alternatives but before that we need to know whether the culprit here is TRAI or Airtel or both. Till then, this needs an open debate before the TRAI implements something without consulting the consumers and sleeping with devils like Airtel.
We we don’t act now, other ISP like BSNL will follow
[Update]
This is a Confirmed news! There is a Official Letter from Airtel
Official Confirmation from Airtel
[...] I blogged about this: Airtel screws unlimited plan users | Gaurish Sharma Live [...]
[...] limit per month 512 kbps = 25 GB download limit per month 1 Mbps = 150 GB download limit per month Airtel screws unlimited plan users | Gaurish Sharma Live __________________ Join the BSNL Broadband Community in [...]
i use airtel 384kbps unlimited plan 999rs,
but i have not received any details on this from airtel
^^^
This is implemented in few areas only on recommendations from TRAI, we are protesting against it now only so other ISPs don’t follow airtel and deteriorate present broadband instead of improving it
This is now a Confirmed news!
I am facing the issue of slow internet on the 384 plan.
where on the earth they keep the bandwidth if they are not giving users what they want..
I can see a reversal in this in the future.. At least hope..
meanwhile lets switch ot other isp or downgrade plans so that airtel know what they are loosing.
The idea seems to be they want the bandwidth to use for IPTV which can generate more income for Airtel.
Very cunning idea..
I don’t think IPTV has anything to do with this. Airtel implemented this as its a pratice by most International ISPs.
But they forgot one thing, those connection are way faster than we have in INDIA.
Airtel, First match up with International ISPs in terms of speed and price, then think of capping bandwidths
So nice of AIRTEL to fleece its customers.Where do customers go?
Glass is half full or half empty depends on which side of the spectrum u’r on buddy!
Guys the above article is correct, just now I was on the call with stupid Airtel Customer care and they said that its a TRAI policy and in TRAI website there is nothing as such.
In Hyderabad they have started doing this.
I’m on 256kbps and after 15GB I’m getting 10kbps. this is ridiculous. can we go to the consumer forum?
I noticed that suddenly my download speed getting reduced. I hadn’t received a single message from Airtel. After contacted to customer care, executive told TRAI is going to implement FAIR USAGE policy soon hence airtel has introduced first. Then I asked about document regarding this from TRAI. he did not give proper information. This is a really a bull**** and unfair. Atleast they would have respected their customers to share this information before implementing.
You have a clone:
http://www.openguru.com/2009/02/airtel-screws-unlimited-plan-users.html
Does not matter, we all are spreading the same message and fighting against this evil policy.
The more people talk about this, the better it is
[...] my download speed had become abysmally low – about 15-20kBps. A little googling turned up this: Airtel screws unlimited plan users. There’s nothing about it on the Airtel website, but I did come across this Google Doc [...]
I’m completely outraged about this stupid FUP. To show my anger, this is what I’ve done.
I’ve sent a mail to the following,
sbm@bharti.com (Sunil Mittal, Chairman), ceo.direct@bharti.com, manoj.kohli@bharti.com (CEO, Bharti Airtel), atul.bindal@bharti.com (CEO, Bharti Telemedia, the subsidiary that offers broadband services)
The content of the mail is here – I blogged about it, so that others may know too.
http://itwofs.com/beastoftraal/2009/03/02/421/
If someone asks you how this FUP is really affecting anyone, use this example to clear all doubts.
http://itwofs.com/beastoftraal/2009/03/03/airtels-fair-usage-speed-rationalization-explained/
And, here’s what Airtel’s Speed Rationalization *really* means!
http://itwofs.com/beastoftraal/2009/03/04/the-real-meaning-of-airtels-letter-on-speed-rationalization/
Spread the word – Airtel better not get their success to their heads. Collectively we can bring them down to a level they deserve.
Proper broadband speed n unlimited speed connection is a big issue.
I was working with a tech firm and my client was ppl from US and UK.. i was so amazed with there speed.
I wish someday we will see the same QOS here in INDIA
[...] if you really want to put limits then don’t call Unlimited. this was started by Airtel . now it seems other ISP incl bsnl is [...]
for major cities go for the airtel cause for it’s service and this resreiction are i guess doesn’t matter if u are not a gaming or movie lover.
You are right. Airtel is now going the Reliance way. They are least bothered at what you say. Recently, when I told their call centre executive that he is bothering me by calling n number of times a day and repeating the same things again and again like a donkey, he said he will do it, very bluntly. And, when I said I will complain to the higher ups, he said complain to Mittal.I have written to their apellate authority, nodal officer and the customer care. Believe me, I didn’t even get a reply from any of them.
From: “Shad Rizvi” Add sender to ContactsTo: upcare@airtel.inCc: nodal.upeast@airtel.in, apellate.upeast@airtel.in
I am forwarding an email sent earlier to your nodal & the apellate authorities. After so many months, I am still frustrated with nonsense calls from billing department.
I have been your customer for last over 5 years and all my bills have been paid, if you check my account. The delays, if any, had been purely because of either delay from your side or due to frustrating calls from your stereotyped call centre fools.
Your local collection centre knows it very well and they send their collection executive every month to collect the payments. In spite of that, every month I get dozens of calls from your several call centres on my landline as well as my celphone. And everytime they have a same set of frustrating questions to ask. I don’t know why you need my address everytime you call when you have my address; or why you need directions to my house when your person knows it like the back of his hand; or why you need to check whether I am paying the bill when your collection man knows that even if he comes at 11 in the night he gets the payment?
I got a call from 0124-4183800 at 3:55 p.m. yesterday on my cel no. 9335308014. You would be having his name in your records. When he was sternly told that he is frustrating me by asking me nonsense questions again and again, he became aggressive. On telling him that I would complain against him, he suggested me to find out the email ID of Sunil Mittal and complain to him. You can hear exact conversation from your records.
Today, I got a call on my landline in the morning. The caller was conveyed to send anybody to collect the payments in cash any time when he wills. As usual, all the directions and locations were explained to him.
Yet again at 2:49 p.m. I got a call on land line from some Enayat asking the same story yet again. And when he was told that he is frustrating me by calling again, he became aggressive and said he will ask me all the questions again and again everytime and that “What would you do?”
I am satisfied with your connectivity; I am satisfied with you local technical staff; yet your call centre people are a waste of your money (as a result, our money). They are frustrating, abusive and unsolicited.
After so much of harassment at your hands, even though not wanting it, I would like to discontinue with your services with immediate effect. Because, I can not stand more of this torture. And, I’ll not pay for any charges if my connection is not disconnected immediately.
I’ll also ensure that all the airtel broadband connections that were bought on my recommendations, are replaced at the earliest. I’ll put this information on my blog, on twitter, on facebook and everywhere to vent my frustration against your attitude.
Shad Rizvi
you forgot to mention techenclave.com
TRAI is are really worst… it seems that they really became mad…
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