Gaurish Sharma Live
Airtel screws unlimited plan users
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Actually Airtel has withdrawn all their unlimited plans except 256kbps and 384kbps.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
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19 people have left comments
1/2 Speed for Those Using 15gb+/Mo – Page 2 said:
[...] I blogged about this: Airtel screws unlimited plan users | Gaurish Sharma Live [...]
Airtel Fair Usage Policy said:
[...] 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 [...]
INDIAN said:
i use airtel 384kbps unlimited plan 999rs,
but i have not received any details on this from airtel
gaurish said:
^^^
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
gaurish said:
INDIAN said: i use airtel 384kbps unlimited plan 999rs,
but i have not received any details on this from airtel
This is now a Confirmed news!
techboy said:
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.
techboy said:
techboy said: I am facing the issue of slow internet on the 384 plan. where on the earth they keep the bandwidth …
The idea seems to be they want the bandwidth to use for IPTV which can generate more income for Airtel.
Very cunning idea..
gaurish said:
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
Pramod said:
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?
Jagadeesh said:
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.
Amog said:
You have a clone:
http://www.openguru.com/2009/02/airtel-screws-unlimited-plan-users.html
gaurish said:
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
I knew it would end someday. « durchkomponiert said:
[...] 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 [...]
Karthik S said:
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.
P@r@noid said:
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





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