This post is largely based on Airtel Broadband plans for Delhi NCR region. They have different plans in different parts of the country. They tend to offer better plans where competition is strong. Like in Hyderabad where Beam is doing an excellent job of killing their market share.

I have been running an online protest asking airtel to launch plans with more bandwidth. Until few days ago, they had some plans offering 150GB data transfer at speeds of 2mbps and 4mbps.

Airtel sort of responded with some new plans. They now have plans with 175GB data transfer limit.

This might look like a minor victory but turns out it is not.

175GB is available only on 8mbps and 16mbps plans. These plans are of course expensive (Rs. 2599 plus taxes for 8mbps 175GB). There is no option to get a 175GB plan with 2mbps or 4mbps speeds.

Here lies the bigger problem…

Airtel also went on to showcase their evilness as they removed the older 150GB plans. In fact, the best available plan at 2mbps and 4mbps available today offer a data transfer limit of 80GB. Almost half of what they had before. You simply cannot get a plan with more than 80GB data transfer for less than Rs. 2500!

There is more bad news…

Airtel simply does not have the network quality to offer 8mbps/16mbps in all areas they are currently serving. Their wiring in my area for example does not support these speeds so I am unable to upgrade to their 175GB 8mbps plan!

Thankfully, they are allowing me to continue with my old plan (150GB 4mbps) for the time being. But if I am to apply for a new Airtel Broadband connection today, the best they have on offer to me is an 80GB plan at 4mbps. This probably applies to most regions where they offer their services in the country today.

Of course, on all these plans, the problem with random SmartBytes problem is a pre-existing condition.