BSNL claims to be the largest cellular service provider in India. It also claims to have cheapest tarrifs in the World !! It has got all the advance facilities like UMS (unified messaging service) etc., It has got collaboration with syndication service providers like Indiatimes.com to offer fun services to cell users... but BSNL forgot to provide a better network without which all these pros become junk.
Before starting this review, let me tell you that I stay in Pune, so this review may not be useful for the people from other area.
Why I’m frustrated ?
1) ZERO network coverage on highways. Your network bar disappears as soon as you go little far from the city. In case of my city, areas like Nigdi, Khadki, Sinhagad road, which are little away from the city(10-15kms) fail to provide consistent network.
2) Network problems even in city. BSNL is always busy either in installing any new software (hanging network for hours) or in experimenting with its own network. This ultimately results in frequent cuts while calling, pre-recorded ’’Network Busy’’ messages & FRUSTRATION.
3) Bad Service. I just don’t remember when did I got attended by their call center executives. I always here some faltu songs or ’’Thanks for calling’’, ’’Your call is very important to us’’ messages, whenever I call them. So how can you get info about sending email using your cell phone??
4) No updates. All the other cellular service providers like IDEA, BPL and AirTel are offering attractive recharge options to their subscribers but god knows when will our BSNL wake up.
5) Call cuts. Imagine, you are convincing your dad about the new course you want to join and your call cuts 100 times. Yes, it happens.
Last words
Please don’t go for BSNL if you stay in an apartment or closed building or if you have a habit of calling your friends from bathroom. If your cell usage is limited and if you are a sms junkie then give it a second thought as it charges only 60 paise for a sms. Also 30sec pulse will help you keep your monthly bill low.
My TIP: Please choose a service provider with relatively low number of subscribers, it will definitely offer good network. As of now i’ve shifted to BPL and i’m happy with the coverage.
--- Harshal Katre