BSNL Dataone Broadband Service

Hi All,

This is for all those who wish to read about the BSNL DataOne Broadband Connection.

Overall, the positive point in this is the connection speed is good and it has not given any problem since we started using, for about a month till now.

The negative point is all about getting the connection. It is a big hassle and you would feel like winning a big trophy which is actually meant to happen with the least intervention from your side.

The thing happened in my case would sound similar to other posts in this website. It goes like this.....

Date: 27/06/2006

I went to the BSNL office in Salt Lake City, Calcutta for applying the broadband connection.

Just at the entrance of that office there are some banners saying DATAONE broadband connection displaying two unlimited plans. One with rental-free phone connection and the other one is for those who had already a phone connection.

Anyway, in my case I do not have a BSNL landline connection. So I asked for an application saying that I do not have BSNL landline and I need the broadband connection. The clerk says, , , no it is not possible and I have to apply for a phone connection first and then after getting the connection I have to apply for the broadband connection separately. Then I asked him what’s the hell out there with the banner displayed. Then he asked his immediate supervisor or so and he told that it is possible and instructed the clerk to accept my application. The clerk is not sure yet. He confirmed when he has seen the options in his software used for registering the application form.

I don’t understand why the clerk is not able to know about the plans for which he is accepting the application everyday and not just once in a blue moon. Finally I applied for a broadband connection along with an application for a landline phone. Hurray............Applying is completed. But this is the beginning.

After the application is submitted and registered I asked the clerk when would be the connection given. He told it would take a week or so but by that time he told me to give a copy of my receipt to our local area supervisor who is sitting somewhere in the same office. I asked him, since your system is computerized can’t he be able to check my order in his system. Then he told, if you want the things to go faster, you have to do it manually. That’s strange and I went upstairs to meet that supervisor but he has not come to office by that time (1000 am). I waited for almost 20 min or so and finally he came and I gave a xerox copy of my receipt. He told that the linemen would come to install the phone connection within few days.

Finally the linemen (two people: one is the lineman and the other, I guess, is his assistant) turned up on a fine saturday to give the connection. They brought only the telephone wire. The instrument is ours. The lineman told that he do not have the connectors to put up the line. But somehow he managed to get it done. Just after giving the connection, I signed the form which was due and the so called assistant asked me to give "Bakseesh" (some gift - here literally, money). I asked why for what he said, he has to give sweets at his home for his wife and children. I do not understand for the work that they has to do, why should I give money? Moreover, I do not understand why does he give sweets at his home, if I am taking the telephone/internet connection. The lineman told that the internet connection will be activated in four days from then. Finally they went a bit sad.

I waited for four days. Extended the waiting up till a week.

Nothing turned up.

It’s been already two weeks from the above mentioned date.

Then I called up the telephone enquiry to know the status of my connection. They told that they have not received any work order for my application. They told me to call up an engineer and they gave their number. I called him and he told he will check the work orders in his system and finally asked me whether I applied for the internet connection or not. I told him to check once again and he told he was not able to find any against my landline number. So he gave another number to call up the

commercial officer.

I called him and he asked the same question. He told he has to initiate the order but he has not received the application. I don’t understand how their system works. Anyway, I have to explain him about my application and my landline number and then he initiated the work order. Then he told to call the sub-divisional engineer to check my application’s status.

The next day, I called up the sub-divisional officer and he told to call him again the following day once again. So promptly, I called again and he told he will be sending a CD to install software through the lineman. One fine day, the lineman handed over the CD to me. I had signed a paper which is to be submitted to his supervisor and finally which has to be intimated to his next immediate officer, with whom I talked over phone, for which he has to initiate my broadband connection. It’s been two days I got the CD but nothing turned up again. I called up the sub-divisional officer again and he told he has not received any such information that the CD is handed over

to me. I told him I signed the paper and handed it over to his lineman. He got convinced and initiated the work order for which my broadband connection

has got activated after two days again.

Finally I got the connection activated after three weeks. I had to call each and every officer to remind their work.

Is this the way the BSNL work stream flows? That is so sad to be pointed out for such a big organization which has its wide presence all over the country.

Even now, I do not understand how their computerization works. I called up for 40 to 50 times in that three-week duration. It costed me about 60 calls.

Coming to the connection part, it is working good. The speed is simply too good. But the upload speed is very low compared to the download speed. I wish the BSNL also increase the upload speed on par with the download speed.

From my experience:

Connection is good but the customer service is utterly poor.

Guys, , , , that’s how you can come to know where it starts and where it ends.!!!

Note: You can also refer to the article posted by msriram::: "Very Good and Very Bad at the same time". It is also about the same application that I applied for.