Happy to report that have shifted to MTNL, I called up MTNL, 011 22221500 slightly sleepy lady took my request (it sounded like she yawned a couple of times) on a holiday - 6 Oct.
The next day someone called me and came over, filled in the paperwork, photo id and residence proof is required, took Rs. 500, apologized that the next day was a Second Saturday - a holiday for MTNL boffins?? and said the connection would be given Monday, and that there would probably be a delay of a day or two to enable broadband.
He wanted to know whether I needed a modem, said no, was happy with my
Netgear and would configure the modem myself - he was happy and sounded relieved to hear that, apparently that is the biggest pain point for them - getting a technician to program the
ADSL login on a modem/
router. So moral of the story, learn how to administer the modem/router yourself in case you haven't, yet.
On Sunday afternoon, believe it or not, someone calls me up from MTNL, asks if I applied for a connection, and goes over a general history of connections in the house, there were two MTNL connections earlier, now down to one (Oh, I forgot to mention - if you are serious about the DSL, please apply for a new connection - that is only way you get new wiring and stuff, the old line is something I do not use, will be disconnecting soon), the person promises that the connection will be in place on Monday, I thank him, end of conversation.
Come Monday, past afternoon, and no sign or news of MTNL, and I think to myself - "looks like the dream is over - MTNL is going to shaft me after all...." and call up the number which called me Sunday, and they ask about my address and then tell me that the connection is on their to do list and they have already sent out their people, I think to myself "Aha, standard Delhi reply - on their way, anytime now; it's not happening unless they land up......"
Around 1630, I figure nothing is going to happen, so call again, again, I'm told that they're on their way, all I want to know is if it is likely to happen today.... I am told that it will happen.
1645 - two MTNL linemen land up, and 1715, the phone is working and they call their boss - Mr. Supervisor and I thank him and ask when the broadband would be enabled, he says it already is enabled, and gives me the CA # which is the password for DSL, the phone # is the username. He asks about modem, I say Netgear - he says he does not think that will work, I tell him not to worry - it's not his problem, and 1745 after seeing off the linemen, closing doors to service lane and generally getting back to my semblance of normalcy, I'm on MTNL!
I do not think that I will ever revert to Airtel - their claim to fame is their "service" but commercial policies also constitute service - and this shifting of goalposts on FUP is to put it mildly - a rip off - one feels - how does one put it politically correctly? molested?? It does not matter what users do, when you agree to a speed - in my case 512 that should be the minimum, I did not ask them to go to town with Congo drums telling everyone about how they "doubled" speeds, hell, I would be satisfied with one constant speed, and it really feels like the tap run dry in the middle of shower when they apply FUP.
For those who believe the claptrap about their altruistic claims about doing it for "all users", believe me - when you start thinking about watching Youtube videos, start tearing your hair out on
Google image searches (like for example, to help with a child's homework....) or whatever, speed matters, and to all those who think otherwise, one might argue, does the internet really matter???
I think I've gone on for too long now, but am seriously ticked off with Airtel ethics.
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https://www.speedtest.net
