BSNL 3G set the Indian Internet World ablaze by being the first one to offer 3G connection speeds over wireless data modems. The BSNL EVDO service was a big flop show and it left many EVDO customers(including yours truly) annoyed with connection problems, irregular speeds, no connectivity even in parts of the cities and so on. While BSNL EVDO promised speeds upto 2.1 mbps, the actual download/upload speeds never crossed 20 kbps. On rare occasions I’ve experienced speeds up to 45 kb/s but soon realized that I was dreaming.
Then entered the BSNL 3G - the revolutionary 10+ year old technology that BSNL promised would provide speeds of up to 3.6 mb/s and 7.2 mb/s. BSNL being the first one in the country to offer 3G services, speed-hungry customers like me had no choice but to go for the new service. The festival offer by BSNL offered the 3G USB Data Modem for only Rs. 2000 and 6 months subscription for Rs 4200. I got my data card that took about 4 days of activation period
source: crazyengineers.com