Jun 02, 2004 09:01 PM
13232 Views
(Updated Mar 01, 2006 06:09 PM)
Hi guys, I have been using a BSNL prepaid Excel connection for almost 1 year now, and the experience has been more than satisfying. Govt. sector companies are not known for their quality of service, but BSNL has really given that image a beating to. It has been so good that I think I wont opt for any other service in the near future. But there are some problems, nothing is perfect. My experiences have been like this:
COVERAGE AND NETWORK
This is the trump card that BSNL has under its sleeve. The network coverage area that BSNL has is simply mindblowing. Being a Govt company with a huge base has its advantages. While private players concentrate on big cities and towns, BSNL brings the service to even very small villages. Let me state a fact here. I am from Kerala, and you can consider the place like one big city. You can very rarely find huge empty stretches of land here, as you may find in TN or AP. Every area is thickly populated (except the hilly areas) So there is no point in concentrating on the cities. BSNL has understood this fact and has taken its service to almost all parts of the state. The private players arent even a competition here. Also, you can take it all over India, since BSNL has a presence whereever you go. It can be said that BSNL is a boon for people who travel a lot. But There is a glitch here: The network has been overloaded, which used to result in 'Network Jams'. I think they have fixed the problem now, and the network works smoother than ever.
RATES AND BILLING
Believe me when I say that BSNL is the cheapest mobile service available. The rates for prepaid are:
Within the state:
Rs .90 per 60 sec to any mobile phone
Rs 1.20 per 60 sec to any landphone/WLL.
STD calls:
Rs 1.20 per 60 sec to any mobile phone IN INDIA!
Rs 1.20 per 30 sec to any landphone/WLL within 500 km
Rs 1.80 per 30 sec to any landphone/WLL outside 500 km
60 ps per SMS And thats it.
No hidden charges, no extra airtime charges. Totally transparent. With private players, you have lots of hidden charges that they dont mention. Also, while roaming, you have the outgoing rate only for incoming calls, no roaming charges nothing. You dont have to activate it or do anything. Just put the phone in your pocket and walk across borders.They dont have Friends & Family, but I think it should be introduced. Also, they from time to time introduce offers which give you the full talktime value of the recharge coupon with a debit of 8% service tax only. Another useful feature is that you can know your balance anytime by dialling *123# and last call charge by dialling *102#. These are also free.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
This is the sore point. The Call centres are not anywhere as sophisticated as that of the private players, but the guys there are always more than helpful. Much better than one would expect. They mostly dont know what the problem is and take time to consult with other people and that results in you being on hold. But I wouldnt complaint of that.
FOOTNOTE
The bottomline reads: Dependable service with fantastic coverage that does not leave much calls in your voice mail, and transparent billing with cheap call rates, BSNL does not leave you with much to complain. So, thats it. It wouldnt be wrong to say that a BSNL prepaid card is worth its weight in gold in kerala. They dont give out many applications for prepaid, and when they do, all the applications are filled in two days! I personally know of people who have bought them for upto Rs 1200 second hand or in the grey market. It does not have all the glitzy features of the private players, but its plans are simple and honest, and has a presence in every nook and cranny. Which is what really matters, and which more than makes up for any defects it has!
Take Care!
vinod
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