There is the maxim - Good so long as it lasts. I think this is almost tailor-made for Sify Broadband.
I use a 256kbps plan and it is very good so long as the connection exists and once it fails with the very infamous BB101 and BB108 errors, then you are now on the receiving end of Sify’s errors.
At one time, when I had the Gateway not reachable error, I used to call their customer care and enter my mobile number on their cue and understood pretty soon that it takes them not less than 24hours to call back to "enquire" as to what the problem was. I found that not entering the numbering finally gives me a human being at the end of the telephone line. This helped a lot - atleast you save 24 hours:-)
The ides of May was the best part - the LAN was shown as disconnected and when I complained, I was told that someone has stolen the switch and that Sify could not do much ASAP. Fair enough - I gave this 5 days but nothing happened. When I called up customer don’t care again, I insisted on having a complaint number. After 2 days they happily closed the ticked saying the issue is resolved although nothing had happened. I then mailed Sify’s Appellette and got a call from Chennai saying that this would be resolved by EOD. I though wow. this really works but. after 7 days also I could see nothing being done. I then wrote to their Nodal officer again to the same effect.
I was sick and tired, since I am used to working from home and was presently unable to do so.
I wrote to the Times of India and lo and behold. I see a Sify Technician at my doorstep the same evening and the equipment replaced.
But, as I mentioned earlier, the speed is good so long as Sify works. In addition I never had a problem with their online payment gateway and other renewal services.
Almost missed this - I now have a contingency plan - a Reliance data card:-)