Has Airtel redeemed it's F-UP with the new plans?

[formfollowsfunction]

It was always BSNL which used to bring the price-fight to other ISP's doorstep especially when it used to announce some high speed plans for the masses – still can’t get over the bloody campaing “2Mbps super speed… BSNL is all you need” Urghhhh. Granted it didn't have many plans for us geeks out there in the unlimited plans category. Airtel always went to the “prestigious” high points of it’s ISP career by announcing 8 meg and 16 meg broadband plans but they knew these plans were good to boast in a boardroom meeting or at an industry convention but not really great when it comes to winning over masses – not with those caps that they have. If anything, most just laughed on those plans and caps and a very few picked up those plans as they fit their need for "super fast emails" – whatever that means!I, like many of you here, was enraged when the Fair Usage Policy n-bomb was dropped on us. We managed to get some amount of mainstream media attention on the issue and due to our protests ensured that Airtel re-visited those caps. We succeeded but only partly.In the end of all this – who was the winner? No-one really! Airtel lost bucketloads of consumer trust due to a shabbily handled Fair Usage Policy campaign. They got laughed at for the “high speed” broadband with shitty caps. Consumers lost out on the caps and the amount of time they spent fighting with Airtel to understand and protest against the caps.However, looking at the new plans announced by Airtel in the last few days, it appears to me that Airtel wants to be the new BFF of the exact same community it alienated a while ago with its Fair Usage Policy. Heck, when I saw the plans, I felt they were designed for me! Granted they still have Fair Usage Policy but still – it’s party time for most of the month and take-it-easy time for the rest – a bit like the difference between a Friday & Saturday night and a Sunday night. Information is a little patchy right now on the new plans but I see most people moving over to the new plans and raising a toast to it! I feel Airtel is seriously trying to redeem it’s F-UP with these plans – and about time I say!! About time they act like the company they are and understand it’s customers and the usage patterns to devise a plan for us!Anyways, these were the thoughts in my head - what do you all think about this?

 

[Humanoid]

I can't really answer that, because I've yet to be affected by it. But these new plans are certainly a huge step in the right direction, as far as broadband in India goes. People had been asking for 1mb/s for around 1500 rs for years now, and now they finally get the chance to enjoy internet at high speeds.

 

[thesuleman]

they removed FUP from many state:irock::yahoo:

 

[adi231189]

they removed Fair Usage Policy from many state:irock::yahoo:

It is Not in Your State Does Not mean they have removed it everywhere it is still in Delhi and 75GB CAP that S***S i don't really know what airtel is trying to do Introducing CAPS already it has lost Customers Due to this.I will love to see this Crap policy Go since it applies not only to Download But also upload.

 

[agantuk]

I agree with FFF. The new policies, even with the FUP in place, are definitely much better than what was available earlier. It does cater to a vast segment of users now as compared to before.

 

[alig]

well the plans are good except for the Fair usage policy. if you compare it to other providers in India, worldwide, they suck bigtime. I was in NY last year, and they are charging 40$ for 10mbps "Unlimited". Now compare that to services here. "we are paying out of our noses for shi*ty services":icry:

 

[agantuk]

I was in NY last year, and they are charging 40$ for 10mbps "Unlimited".

NY is a pretty competitive market, with CVC and VZ fighting it out. India is a different story altogether, though not completely hopeless I have to add. For instance, if you go to say one of those Fairpoint served areas, 1.5 Mbps DSL is provided at a premium of $50. Much cheaper here in India compared to that!

 

[alig]

NY is a pretty competitive market, with CVC and VZ fighting it out. India is a different story altogether, though not completely hopeless I have to add. For instance, if you go to say one of those Fairpoint served areas, 1.5 Mbps DSL is provided at a premium of $50. Much cheaper here in India compared to that!

True, but those are just some selected areas, now I know we cant compare India to US, but I have heard India is developing at a rapid rate,and the Global players entering into Indian Markets, Companies like Airtel which want to make a name in the International market will have to live up with the expectations and the Global competition.