My experience with MTNL ADSL Broadband. Review on MTNL Triband ADSL

Let me state that I am currently not using this service provider for broadband. (I use Sify L )My experience is based on my experiences & observations at my neighbor’s house. MTNL engineers came to install the modem (D-Link) & activate the connection, within a week of booking the connection. I had heard horror stories of subscribers waiting for weeks for the engineers to come & do the needful. I was called to supervise, as I am considered ‘knowledgeable’ about these things J.

They were polite, efficient and after doing the needful explained to me how to change the password at their site as well on the modem. I had previously downloaded the manual from their site as I was interested in their broadband, but I was surprised that they provide no manual or basic instruction booklet to the customer. They give a very airy ‘If you have any problem contact 1500 & we will solve your problem’

After installation I checked out the actual download speed by going to https://download.com & doing a test download, I got a steady 26 kbps at around 1935 hrs. Not that great I thought, but not bad either. When the engineers saw the speed he promptly said ‘we promise UPTO 256 kbps’. I also checked the speed at

https://promos.mcafee.com/speedometer/test_0150.asp

https://dslreports.com/stest

it was consistently around 200 – 208 kbps (browsing speed). I have heard of other subscribers who go into raptures about the great speed they get. Frankly this more of a reaction to using Dial up before this. Compared to dial up it’s a quantum leap, but still not real broadband (ie 256 kbps or greater) This was definitely better than the speed I get for my ‘256 kbps broadband’ 1 GB limit scheme from Sify. After that the anti virus s/w was promptly updated. When my neighbor came back from work, the first thing we got down to changing the password. Since the engineer had put down the instruction on paper before leaving + the .pdf I had, it was not too difficult.

But after the second stage of changing the password on the modem & clicking on ‘Save and Reboot’ all activity on the PC seemed to come to a stand still. The machine had not ‘hung’ but there seemed no further except the display of the message ‘ Restarting the computer’. After about half an hour I rang up 1500 number for assistance I was told to contact 1504, they gave me 2 more numbers in case ‘helpdesk’ did not get back to me.!!!!! After another half hour I decided that since the changes were already saved & the PC was in the process of rebooting, no harm would be done if I helped it on its way J. We decided on this extreme step as it was already 2316 hrs & if necessary, call for help the next day. After restarting the PC hey presto there was no problem and the net connection worked just fine. So I was right the password had been saved. Just then came the call from the MTNL helpdesk, who told ‘either click on refresh button of the browser or restart the PC’ J But to a novice it definitely would have been complicated also if a user inadvertently makes any changes to the settings he can see during the change of password on the modem, he will land in deep s…. With this happy ending I went back home, with a promise to help in installing a firewall & useful utilities like Getright, Winzip & Spybot 1.4

The next day we assembled again and installed utilities like zone alarm, Spybot 1.4, Getright & Winzip. Even on this day the download speed around 29 – 30 kbps, which is really remarkable. I would recommend this broadband service provider over any other who provides ' broad band internet' thru a CAT 5 wire, with the last mile operator being ur cable wallah.

I have not mentioned the cost incurred as it can be different depending upon the scheme u subscribe to as well as whether u rent ot buy outright the modem. All that is available on their website. I would suggest buy it outright. If you don’t have much knowledge about computers don’t buy your own modem, MTNL will simple blame your modem in case of any problem later. Also make sure u stay within 3 kms (it’s difficult to gauge) of ur exchange (although 5 is the outer limit)

Update Jan 2006

After being part of the ‘Sify sufferers club’ for three yrs, I decided to dump them in Nov 2005 for a better service provider. As I had experience with MTNL Triband coz of my exposure to them (mentioned above).

I went to Lamington Rd to check out the prices for D-link 502T router/modem used with MTNL Triband the prices vary from Rs 1995 to Rs 2450. The 'imported' one costs 1995 & the legally made/imported one costs 2275 - 2450 (all with bill & warranty). Shown below are the costs incurred (assuming the rent & tax remains the same). I decide to buy my own router as I found it to be cost effective.

MTNL

Modem With Tax      Annual       &n
bsp;   Plus downpayment

Rent

1st Yr 80      88.16           1057.92           1557.92

2nd Yr              &n
bsp;  2115.84           2615.84

3rd Yr              &n
bsp;  3173.76           3673.76

I submitted the application form on Jan 9th 2006 to a person who kept muttering to herself ‘O u bought ur own modem’ who also told me that installation would be done in ‘a weeks time’. & so was waiting patiently as their form mentioned that their staff would come to do a ‘feasibility study’ as I had opted for the 512 kbps, 1 GB plan. Nothing happened for a week. When I made phone calls to Prabhadevi tel exchange they directed me to their office @ ‘Phatare’ house in Dadar, there I was bluntly told that since I had opted to buy the broadband router (D-Link 502T) I should install it myself, to which I replied I could do that but I needed some service provider specific settings. Later in the day I got a call from MTNL (a Mr Patil) that he would come & do the needful !!!!

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