Kaushik Biswas ~ a personal blog with personal views and opinions

Internet in India: Mobile broadband Vs. Fixed Line broadband

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Mobile internet usage in India has grown hugely, especially after aggressive entry of Reliance Jio. But, what is the state of mobile internet speeds in India? The <a href="https://www.speedtest.net/global-index" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Speedtest Global Index</a> shows that India ranks at position 120 out of 137 nations indexed, with an average of 10.13Mbps average speed. But this is a misleading figure, aggressively pursued by the telcos, in the race of "who's the fastest network".<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9YNZzDHhARQ/XItTBdwmA3I/AAAAAAAAKK0/a3TlR5aGE3c1hZSW7KJ87wrarypQPEYTACLcBGAs/s1600/Kaushik-Biswas-Mobile-Internet-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="young mobile user class in india" border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1024" height="175" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9YNZzDHhARQ/XItTBdwmA3I/AAAAAAAAKK0/a3TlR5aGE3c1hZSW7KJ87wrarypQPEYTACLcBGAs/s320/Kaushik-Biswas-Mobile-Internet-2.jpeg" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
If one follows general subscribers' reports of suffering with internet connectivity and network speeds, it'll be soon very clear that the indexed figure belongs from a few very lucky users who get top speeds, and telco-appointed guys who roam near the towers (apart from telcos offices which get highest speeds) who submit speed reports continuously.<br />
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Due to personal reasons, I spend most of my time indoors and due to a temporary home shift, I had to rely upon mobile internet, quitting fixed line broadband. Before my home shifting, <a href="https://www.jio.com/en-in/4g-plans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reliance Jio</a> started it's journey with the <i>free preview</i> period and the commercial launch happened months before my home shifting.<br />
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At my permanent residence, I used to get around 4 to 8Mbps during the day time, and around 16 to 24Mbps at night. Now I live just 30 meters away, in my temporary residence, I have two <span id="goog_1886315312"></span><span id="goog_1886315313"></span>Jio connections, one being in the <a href="https://www.jio.com/shop/en-in/c/jiofi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">JioFi</a>. Internet speeds are miserable now. Information says there's a tower three streets away from my location, but still, misery continues, they need more towers.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wayDCwZHWZE/XItYQH5l7zI/AAAAAAAAKLA/fKMd4NwWlXYwZWuVXcLKHsl9QHPHUldtwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Kaushik-Biswas-Mobile-Internet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="future estimate of mobile internet users" border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="600" height="193" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wayDCwZHWZE/XItYQH5l7zI/AAAAAAAAKLA/fKMd4NwWlXYwZWuVXcLKHsl9QHPHUldtwCEwYBhgL/s320/Kaushik-Biswas-Mobile-Internet.jpg" title="future estimate of mobile internet users" width="320" /></a></div>
On the other hand, the market is overflowing with marketing gimmicks, lucrative package plans, but subscribers are banging their head on the walls, no matter which network they're using! Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, Jio - subscribers are helpless.<br />
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In a situation like this, I can say that fixed line home broadband connections offer better speeds and reliability. Though, this also has it's own problems during lightnings. Right now, the best way, probably, is to make fixed line home broadband your <b>primary</b> connection, and mobile internet as <b>secondary</b> or <b>backup</b> connection. Thus, you may not feel the misery.<br />
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My Jio SIM gives me acceptable quality voice calls, so I'm going to continue that; but I'm unsure about the SIM connection in JioFi, that pack expires on April 6th. I'll have to decide before that, whether to let Jio keep fooling me and make Ambanis richer, or I shift to fixed line broadband.<br />
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State-owned BSNL has been successfully ruined by the conspiring private telcos.</div>

Internet in India: Mobile broadband Vs. Fixed Line broadband

Mobile internet usage in India has grown hugely, especially after aggressive entry of Reliance Jio. But, what is the state of mobile intern...

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Updates: posting after almost a year

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Hello guests! I'm posting here after almost a year. Meanwhile, it was a period of turmoil in my family, mom was in hospital. Finally, she passed away on the early morning of 30th December 2018, due to diabetic nephropathy. She suffered two cardiac arrests.</div>
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My mom has been a diabetic since last 25 years. She was on insulin for 18 years or so. Additionally, she had hypertension. Being the only child of my parents, I had hectic time, trying to keep my mom well.</div>
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In the last one year, she had been on consultation with a nephrologist, Dr. Arpita (Lahiri) Roychoudhury, at AMRI, Dhakuria, Kolkata. Around October 2018, her creatinine level reached up to 5.45 and doctor advised for creation of A-V Fistula creation, should dialysis be needed. But by December, she gradually weakened and had to be admitted into hospital, her serum urea was found to be around 400, creatinine was 11.5 and she had high level of potassium, around 8.</div>
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Our ancestral house is being redeveloped, so we shifted to a rented apartment last year in June 21st. I lost mom within six months after shifting to new temporary home. So, sadly enough, mom could not see the new house.</div>
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Now, I am living with my dad, who's 84-yrs-old. Life has been harder, without mom. After a month of her demise, I've been diagnosed with Grade-I Diastolic Dysfunction, Loss of Lordosis & Osteophytes in cervical spine; additionally, fatty liver, small renal cortical cysts in both kidneys and high cholesterol. I'm living in a great amount of pain, sometimes unbearable.</div>
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Lastly, I'd like to state here that I'd try to find time and keep posting on a regular basis in future.</div>

Updates: posting after almost a year

Hello guests! I'm posting here after almost a year. Meanwhile, it was a period of turmoil in my family, mom was in hospital. Finally, s...

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Jio Prime Membership: free renewal for existing users!

The most talked about telecom operator in the nation for over a year, has been seen wooing subscribers with different tariff plans based on "Jio Prime Membership" which came at a price of ₹99 for a proud of one year ending on 31st March 2018. Non-prime members get lesser plan benefits, told the company, Reliance Jio.<br /><br />As I write this blog post this evening of 30th March, Reliance Jio announced that the existing prime members will continue to enjoy same benefits at no extra cost for another year, i.e. upto 31st March 2019. However, Reliance Jio has also stated that it is a limited time offer and subscribers will be required to "express interest" via "My Jio" app.<br /><br />New subscribers, joining in to Reliance Jio on and from 1st April will have to enrol for Prime Membership club with a fee of ₹99 only.<br /><br />There's no change in the tariff chart as of now. Reliance Jio also happens to be India's first prepaid auto-recharge. That can be done through credit/debit card or even directly authorising via bank account.<br /><br />I'd not recommend auto-recharge of prepaid because when tariff plans change, there would be a big hassle cancelling the existing authorisation and opting for the revised tariff. Also, it takes away your freedom to choose any plan any month.<div dir="ltr">
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There's no change in the tariff chart as of now. </div>
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Jio Prime Membership: free renewal for existing users!

The most talked about telecom operator in the nation for over a year, has been seen wooing subscribers with different tariff plans based on ...

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Toy Train: Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

<p dir="ltr">Indian Railways is clearly neglecting the UNESCO World Heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railway; these trains run on the narrow gauge, only two in a day - one Up (Train no. 52541 NJP to Darjeeling) and one Down (train no. 52540 Darjeeling to NJP), but still these trains never run on time.</p>
<p dir="ltr">On 25th February, I had my ticket, costing Rs. 1,295, in a First Class coach, on the 52541 New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling toy train. This train was scheduled to depart NJP at 8:30am but there was no train on the platform. As passengers waited, railways announced around 9am that the train will be delayed and will depart at 12noon!</p>
<p dir="ltr">As per railways rule, passengers will be able to cancel their tickets if any train is delayed by three hours, but that had to be done before the scheduled departure of train. So you see, announcement made 30 minutes after scheduled departure automatically disqualified passengers to file TDR (ticket deposit receipt) for full refund.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This railways made sure they won't have to refund those many costly tickets! They portray forced us with two difficult options: (a) don't travel and forget refund, (b) forget the joy of toy train ride and suffer inconveniences. I opted for the second as I couldn't let my hard earned money go down the drain.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Why inconvenience? Because the normal journey takes 7 hours! Your whole day is practically gone. Yet, Indians and foreigners but tickets and thus runs this UNESCO World Heritage train. By making it depart at 12 noon means the train would reach destination after 7pm; but it won't, as running this train uphill after sunset in the darkness takes longer time!</p>
<p dir="ltr">That evening, my train reached at 9pm! It was dark, Darjeeling had little lights at that hour as many shops close and other activities end and it is cold, quite cold there. That night, temperature dipped to 7°C and we came uphill from the plains which was 33°C hot!</p>
<p dir="ltr">There were no vehicles in the station area. Passengers were anxiously calling their hotels to arrange cabs. I, however, couldn't get any cab and had to walk further uphill by 1.8 kilometres to my lodge.</p>
<p dir="ltr">During the journey, the sun set before we're arriving Kurseong; after that stop, rest of the road was covered in complete darkness as the Hill Cart Road has no street lighting. So, no sightseeing, tensed journey for passengers, only time killing and endless waiting to reach destination.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Indian Railways badly failed us. And it's not only us that day, from the information I gathered from base station New Jalpaiguri, this late running is very normal.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Ministry of Railways is foolishly messing with a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE. Regarding all other broad gauge mail/express trains, the late running is even more worse.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Indian Railways is fast losing reputation, trust & dependability.</p>
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Toy Train: Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

Indian Railways is clearly neglecting the UNESCO World Heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railway; these trains run on the narrow gauge, only two...

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Business of Uber taxi: not as profitable as it is showing?

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From quite some some time I am noticing the Uber taxi offers and promo codes game. Much has changed in the sphere of Uber taxi free rides in less than a year. New users used to get 2 free rides, worth Rs. 250 each, which has undergone several confusing changes. Now it's 1 free ride, worth Rs. 150. On the Uber referral system earned free rides as well, nothing seems to be well enough.</div>
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Users got emails stating "refer 3 people and earn 18 discounted rides". 
Earlier, Uber also kept sending emails stating, "take 3 rides before 
<date> and get 100 free rides"!!! Very soon it changed to 18 discounted rides upon 3 referrals. Crazy! But reveals everything's 
wrong in there now. This trend of "take three rides before <date>" is being kept up by Uber. All kinds of funny offers are being made on this trend.</div>
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Nobody knows who, or if anyone at all, won those 100 free rides. Nobody knows who qualified for those 18 discounted rides. The value of one free ride saw change from Rs. 250 to Rs. 150 and then Rs. 50 only.</div>
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Right now, a uberPOOL system is being trending in Twitter. They're accommodating 2 separate pickup requests, 2 persons per request, that makes four people in the car pool - the idea of a shuttle taxi basically, with some terms & conditions.</div>
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Uber also introduced a cancellation fee. Rs. 60, even if you had to cancel due to driver's issues. I was charged Rs. 60 because I had to cancel a pickup request due to driver refusing me to pick me up and he wanted me to walk up to his cab location.</div>
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Last week, for Udaipur only, Uber introduced a flat Rs. 40 ride fare for upto first 8 kilometers, after that, regular fares apply.</div>
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More surprises sure to come from Uber, in the days ahead, if I am not wrong. Keep it simple, Uber. The better. For you and for us.</div>

Business of Uber taxi: not as profitable as it is showing?

From quite some some time I am noticing the Uber taxi offers and promo codes game. Much has changed in the sphere of Uber taxi free rides i...

Continue »

Now a super flop: MTS Mblaze Ultra 3G+ WiFi idea

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The entire hype created by the company about it's Mblaze Ultra 3G+ Wi-Fi has gone down the drains. Rotten right now. Today, after ages, I logged on to the site <a href="http://www.mtsindia.in/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mtsindia.in</a> and what am I seeing in their '<a href="http://www.shop.mtsindia.in/mts-mblaze/mblaze-ultra-wi-fi-with-adapter/p-7436430-53162310354-cat.html#variant_id=7436430-61947155528" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">shop</a>' page there? A dead link. Page and the idea not found. The device shopping link I had followed from their <a href="http://www.mtsindia.in/OpenWeb/index.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">main page</a>. Right now there are no television ads, the internet baby is gone. Probably grown up and understood.</div>
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MTS couldn't survive. It had no future. Basically, a miscalculated venture by the company. Users in India mostly use two types of Internet connectivity. The most popular is wireline internet provided by local entrepreneurs which come at a very cheap price and they're constantly improving their services. Secondly, users have smartphones and on the move they need mobile Internet packs. Right now, I am using a <a href="http://www.wishnet.in/priceing.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">WishNet broadband unlimited plan</a>, where I spend Rs. 650 per month and I get 4Mbps (12am-12noon) and 2Mbps (12noon-12am). Pretty good, no?</div>
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And what's MTS Mblaze Ultra 3G+ Wi-Fi offering? 5GB at Rs. 499 and the saddest offer is, 10GB day and 10GB night data at Rs. 999. Horribly costly. And, from my own experience, the speeds are 2Mbps maximum - that too, with a antenna they fitted on my roof top and practically made a wireless device a wired device. Insane!</div>
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My WishCharm data plan is deployed via Wi-Fi router, so it's pretty much wireless. All my devices are connected. I use 3G/4G mobile data only when I'm outside home. Rs. 251 gives me 1GB 4G data on the Vodafone SuperNet. Many a times, Vodafone offers 1GB at a mere Rs. 147 (double data offer).<br />
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So, how's MTS scoring? NIL. Failed terribly. All the investment wasted. The employees have an uncertain future. Company might have to exit from business or totally change their ideas and offers.</div>

Now a super flop: MTS Mblaze Ultra 3G+ WiFi idea

The entire hype created by the company about it's Mblaze Ultra 3G+ Wi-Fi has gone down the drains. Rotten right now. Today, after ages,...

Continue »

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Internet in India: Mobile broadband Vs. Fixed Line broadband

Updates: posting after almost a year

Jio Prime Membership: free renewal for existing users!

Toy Train: Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

Business of Uber taxi: not as profitable as it is showing?

Now a super flop: MTS Mblaze Ultra 3G+ WiFi idea

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