Hello,
I remember years back, I started with an MTNL Dialup connection and still was happy back in those days. Eventually when Hathway Cable Internet started providing services a couple of years back, I switch without a doubt.
My first package back then was a Online24 Modem Share (Unlimited), which basically is that you share the internet connection from a single broadband modem (I am not sure, but the limit as they said was 11 users per modem). I was paying them approx Rs. 800 odd amount for the same. When first I got the connection the Speed and Response was amazing (24kbps to sometime 50kbps) but however as time passed by the connection quality and the services quality dropped dramatically. I would hardly get between 2 - 4 kbps connection.
Soon I found about their 256 Kbps Dedicated Modem connection again Unlimited Plan, which their executive offered, so once again I immediately signed up. The promise from their executive was a stable bandwidth of 24 - 25kbps and practically no downtime. I had to pay One month in advance of Rs. 1195.00 (Tariff charges for Freeway Unlimited Package, Breakup Rs. 1095.00 Internet Charges and Rs. 100 per month Modem Rental) and Deposit for Modem of Rs. 1000.00 so a total of Rs. 2195.00.
So I was really excited when they came to setup the connection in my house with this really thick cable and a Motorola modem. The connection was stable of 24 - 25 kbps and everything was all rosy. This was the case for the first 3 months only.
Now, after 3 months the connection once again started reducing to hardly 4 kbps and a 1 - 2 hours downtime was almost every 4 - 5 days. As the time slowly passed by the connection has gotten even worse, now most of the time I get a speed of sometimes 833 bytes to 1 - 2 kbps. Which is ridiculous and the worse part is I have a downtime everyday now once in the morning and once in the evening for about 15 - 20 minutes. I have been calling the Service Helpline regarding this problem, their answer has always been that ’’They are having problems in the Backend and their Technicians are working on it, the problem will be resolved soon’’ I am still waiting for a good connection.
These days it is so frustrating to surf the internet that I finally give up and get on work with this important resource. Many of my friends tell me that you just keep complaining but why don’t you do something about this.
I have one question to all... What can I do? If I ask Hathway to remove the connection they will gladly do it without any remorse, they don’t really care of customers. My other choice is Sify, even worse in service as per my friend’s experience. MTNL does not have an Unlimited Package, but the speed is far better when I checked at my cousin place.
So the only thing I can do is to just sit back and take what Hathway or any other Service Company dish out.
I have learnt one thing Consumers are Beggars for sure in India. I hope for a better future.
However, if there are no options then Hathway is the only recommended ISP. But always study your options in your area, and then perhaps get yourself connected.
My regards to all the readers.