Before I start reviewing and harping about the Internet service of MTNL, I would like to say that until five months ago I used Internet (via MTNL dial-up service, of course) very frugally. I’d only check my E-mail account and the Formula1 website and would probably try to disconnect within three minutes (so that I only pay only for that one phone call besides the ISP charge). In September 2004, the local cable operator who offered to draw a cable line for Internet access (Sify?s) to my house without the standard installation charge, spoiled this habit.
I then started browsing websites both good and bad (enough to put a pimp to shame), joined discussion forums and started chatting (on unnecessary and trivial subjects really!) with unknown people via Yahoo! Messenger. But, sadly the service had inconsistent data transfer rate compounded by frequent disconnections. The cable operator had just graduated from the cable TV business and simply did not have the resolve (or the means) to meet the demand for quick and efficient troubleshooting.
I then decided to go for the MTNL Landline for Internet (Scheme B). You see, I didn?t pay the cable operator any line installation charge, so my decision to dump him was pretty painless (not so for him). The MTNL tariff details are available in the document at https://mumbai.mtnl.net.in/tariff.pdf.
Let me start with the bad news, the Internet connection gets disconnected if there is any noise, disturbance or cross-talk in the line and watching streaming video or listening to streaming audio is a pain. The good news is that it allows unlimited data downloads (at around 4 kbps on average) and you can share this connection with other computers in your home or office network easily ?cause the allotted IP address is on a public domain.
The real USP is that the local MTNL telephone exchange linesmen ensure that your line always has a dial tone, unlike the cable operator who may or may not fix the issue in the next 72 hours. Oh Yeah! I almost forgot, Sify has this system whereby their customer resource personnel call you every hour (after you inform them that the Internet connection is down) and give you ?thasalli?(consolation) that the issue is being looked into and will be resolved ASAP.
So people, I suggest that you do not go in for any sort of fancy broadband service (unless you need it for business reasons or if its dirt cheap) and stick to good ol? MTNL. In many ways it is like why students prefer government-engineering colleges and people use Indian Railways (suburban and long distance).
PS: Some of you may have to go and beg MTNL regularly for the bill ’cause of their habit of adding non-payment penalty on subsequent bills without ensuring the delivery of the first bill.