Airtel wants me to change my modem

[amit_arya]

I think i have a D-Link DSL-2750U and i got a mailer from Airtel today saying i need to change my modem.
I am not sure sure about the DOT ruling and stuff. Any one any idea on this? i hope it not related to back doors on modem / NSA stuff which came into light in recent history????

Note, since image upload is not available on the forum i ran an OCR and pasting the text of the mail. this came in the standard marketing mail format of Airtel from [email protected]


----- Email Content -----
time to change your modem.

Dear Customer.

As per recommendation from Department of Telecommunication (D0T). subscriber should use only those modems that are endorsed by the service provider and are aligned to their framework. Your modem does not comply with this norm and is susceptible to unauthorized use.

Change your modem immediately for a safer internet experience and enjoy:

better stability during power fluctuations

higher security against misuse
automatic firmware upgrades

remote management for instant help

With airtel, get the new modem at just Rs.1000 as against the market price of Rs.1500.

What’s more, you can also pay in easy monthly installments of Rs. 200.

Go ahead, make the most of this limited period offer! SMS PLAN SECURE to 53636

*T&c

Monthly installment will be charged in the customer’s bill itself.

--Edit 28 Jul 2014--
Added image , if image does not open please check imgur: the simple image sharer

 

[x720]

What nonsense. First they stopped selling modems and now this.

Yep, beetel modems are highly secure

 

[rj27]

Demand for the link from them where DOT has made it mandatory for the subscribers to use modem provided by ISP only. Also cc some id's from the dot website.

There is a huge difference between recommendation and mandatory obligation. This is just a pure extortion using unfactual information and misleading the consumer.

This D-Link router has been sold and in use in india more than the number of adsl subscribers failtel probably has. Pure bullshit.

And even better just ignore this crap and milk your connection even harder with the same router[emoji16]

 

[Sushubh]

Use Imgur to share the scanned image. This needs to be mocked louder.

 

[vebk]

This is what I found in the news:

Noting that hackers have been exploiting vulnerabilities in the ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) modems — those normally installed by broadband service providers at homes and offices — to implant malware and manipulate data, the DoT has written to all ISPs to “assist customers to change the password, including by physical visits.” It has also come out with a new set of guidelines for ISPs that must be implemented by May this year to ensure security of almost 1.5 crore fixed-line broadband users.
Source: ISPs must adopt new measures to ward off cyber attacks: DoT - The Hindu

India's telecom department has directed allinternet service providers to advise customers to take necessary precautions to protect modems - instruments that connect a computer to the Internet - from malware attacks and hacking attempts. In a directive issued to all internet service providers (ISPs) seen by ET, the telecom department's security wing has said 'concerns have been raised in regarding vulnerabilities in ADSL modems, which can be exploited by attackers to implant malwares change configurations or manipulate data.'
Source: ISPs must warn customers about modem protection to save the risk of malware attacks, hacking attempts: DoT - Economic Times

Their language however is making it sound as if it is mandatory. Amit_arya, please do upload an image / pdf of the e-mail. There may be some grounds to make a complaint against Airtel.

 

[newuser990]

maybe they want you to install a modem which is backdoored by indian guys.