Unlimited broadband plans: what is the future?

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2 Mbps UL for 700 INR?

It's gonna take lot of time. I am pretty sure about that.

Our Indian ISPs can follow the examples of what a lot of foreign ISPs are doing.

They should give a respectable download limit of say 30 to 60GB per month for Rs. 700 or so per month at max speed like 8 mbps or even 20 mbps. Once you have exhausted your monthly download quota of 30GB, you will get downgraded to a 128 kbps unlimited connection. This will ensure that you get a monthly bill of fixed amount irrespective of your usage.

This will ensure that P2P (torrent) downloaders don't end up downloading every bit of porn that is available online. On the other hand an average user will be happy with a 30GB limit at 8 mbps and more at 128 kbps.
 
Great posts Tobweb and I agree that a plan with a reasonable limit and a slower connection after that limit would work well. Most people would never reach the 30GB limit anyway and the important thing is that their monthly bill would never go beyond a fixed amount.Right now not only are the unlimited connection slow and expensive the limited plans have the most absurd prices per MB after the limit. IIRC it's still 1 rupee per MB at MTNL which is completely crazy and could lead to bills of tens of thousands of rupees for someone who doesn't understand downloads very well.Indian ISP's seem to delight in keeping things complicated with time limits, download limits, NUL and so on without realizing that the average person just doesn't want all this complexity especially if he or she could be saddled with huge bills.Like I said I think Indian broadband will take off when 512UL is offered for about 500 p.m. 512 is the speed at which your typical Internet video can be enjoyed in real time. 500 p.m. is the kind of price a middle class family would consider affordable. The trouble is the progress of unlimited plans has slowed down considerably in the last few years. Let's hope Railtel will shake things up though I don't know much about them.
 
international ISPs also do throttling of speeds on p2p networks and they are also implementing fingerprinting technologies. some ISPs have signed deals with media companies to disconnect customers who are found downloading/uploading copyrighted material on the web.
 
international ISPs also do throttling of speeds on p2p networks and they are also implementing fingerprinting technologies.

some ISPs have signed deals with media companies to disconnect customers who are found downloading/uploading copyrighted material on the web.

I am all for throttling of speeds on P2P networks enabling download of pirated stuff if it can help reduce the cost of broadband for an average user who is using internet for legitimate purpose.
 
Some private sectors must emerge with some unlimited plans at very low rates along with availability of high bandwidth. Then the so called "well established companies" would come to their senses and further bring down the rates. Hence to increase the quality of broadband in India there should be an increase in competition which would have a huge impact. At least one can be sure that without any availability of good competitors there would be no improvement. Like if there are 100 connections paying Rs. 1000 each hence total income of that company would be Rs 100000 but if the prices are reduced there would be definitely an increase in number of connections and hence more profit ; like for 500 connections Rs 500 each and hence total income= Rs.250000. Obviously these statements are fully depended upon the population of that region opting for an internet connection but not getting it due to high prices and also economic factors of that area, amount of income etc...
 
a possible way to cheapen broadband access would be possible in flats. four families can buy a common connection and use wifi to share it amongst themselves :D
 
I spent a couple of years in the USA back in 2000-2001. During that time, I had a 512kbps unlimited connection from Comcast for 40 dollars a month. Today, I pay Rs 750 for a 256kbps connection, 8 years later. The only upgrade in this line has been from 128kbps to 256kbps over a period of so many years. It is incredibly frustrating but I have to bear with it because of a lack of options.There is no REAL competition in the market, most ISPs are happy fleecing customers by pwning off these crappy plans as broadband. Even sadder is the fact that most of the people who take the plans are unaware that they are being ripped off. However, these ISPs are going to get away scott free because the government is too lazy to overlook their short-sighted, self centered policies and give a crap about the well being of the country. Wireless broadband is one solution to the infrastructure problem, but the technology is iffy at best, with packet loss and spiky pings making it unsuitable for things like gaming. Also, instead of using ageing copper cables, we need to upgrade our cable network to fiber optic in a systematic fashion. It will take time, but atleast if they started the process we'd gradually see an improvement, and would ensure a better future for the state of broadband in the country.I suppose it's overally optimistic, but I needed to vent.
 
Even sadder is the fact that most of the people who take the plans are unaware that they are being ripped off.
I would term it differently. I would say that even sadder is the fact that most of the people don't realize that there is something better out there and are content with the status quo. This also btw applies to HDTV.
 
all you need is a good IT minister to solve all these problems;) if i were the minister i will introduce the following plans now and now: BSNL 256kbps unlimited Rs450 512kbps unlimited Rs700 and all limited plans will be upgraded to 4mbps and night time from 11pm-9am I think this kind of upgradation is possible in reality rather than 2mbps ul for rs700 which you guys demand cannot be accomplished in this current scenario;)now what one has to do to become a it minister??:huh:
 
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