• Techtree Exclusive: 3G in Mumbai - Why the Delay?

    Techtree Exclusive: 3G in Mumbai - Why the Delay?

    Pankhuri Bajaj, Jun 21, 2009 1334 hrs IST

    Find out why the delay

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State owned telecom service provider Mahanagar Telecom Nigam Limited, best known as MTNL, launched its much-awaited 3G services in Mumbai. The services were to be made available in a month's time from the date of its launch -- first week of June, 2009.

So in order to get a connection, we kept in touch with the operator's call center beginning June 1. Each time, the polite customer care executives would earnestly thank us for our unsuspecting interest in the company's 3G services and promise us that someone would get back to us within 48 hrs with the complete connection-related info. Splendid!


 


Read: 3G Comes to Mumbai Via MTNL on June 1



So, with bated breath, we waited and waited for an MTNL executive to revert to us, and as you can well imagine by now - we're still waiting!

Come June 15, and I couldn't make my '3G-ready' Nokia E71 wait any longer. For that matter, Techtree couldn't let any Mumbaikar's 3G-ready phone wait further! We needed some answers, so we made a few calls.

So, what's wrong really?

"We're in trial mode of the services. We do not want to want to bring the product in the market with some untested features.

We want to make it a solid service for end users so that they don't face any technical hitch (when they use the service)." says an MTNL representative who did not wish to be quoted.

"This (3G) is a new service to India so there are quite a few complications surrounding it like migration from the legacy network of 2G to 3G, interconnection - all such issues exist.

We're trying to sort out all those issues and we're on the final stage of doing it," said the same source.

Techtree: MTNL was so sure when the 3G services launch dates were made public. Then how come the tests for the service are still going on?

"We're testing the data cards (the card on which MTNL will offer its HSDPA services for notebooks) of various vendors. We have found some to be alright but we want to still test some more vendors so we get the

Explaining the role of vendors further, the source says, "MTNL won't be providing data cards for the HSDPA service to its customers, instead we will sell SIM cards, while data cards (brand) will be of the customer's choice.

Say, there are three vendors we've chalked out namely X, Y, and Z that work fine as a platform to offer HSDPA service via MTNL- customers will have a choice to select any one of them. This is similar to the way MTNL is dealing with DSL modems."

Lastly, the source adds, "We will first introduce the 3G data card in the market which will offer speeds up to 3.6Mbps, followed by video calls, etc."

When will MTNL's 3G services be finally available in Mumbai?

"Within 10 days" followed by "expect the service to launch very shortly, perhaps before the month (June) ends. If you call our customer care service sometime mid next week, the representatives should be able to provide you with information on MTNL's 3G services," the gentleman who is not supposed to talk to the media told us.

"Currently we are checking our network. We will declare the date of availability of services within a week," followed by "in a day or two," says Mr. Deshpande, MTNL's assistant general manager for public relations.

"The delay has been caused due to technical glitches. Both voice and data services will commence right from the beginning," he adds.

"Sometime next week," says J Gopalan, MTNL Mumbai's executive director.

Conclusion

It's just disappointing - right from MTNL's erratic website - to the false promises by the customer care to revert to the customers - to the fizzing of excitement caused by the delay in the actual commercial launch - to the fact that the media or consumers were not informed about the indefinite delay of MTNL's 3G services the grievance list could be very long.

MTNL has a golden chance to prove its mettle and build a loyal subscriber base though the introduction of 3G services in the city.

While it's appreciated that the company does not want to offer semi-tested services in the city and wants to offer hundred percent, some clarity about the availability of the services needs to be brought forth by MTNL in an official manner.

Now, let us wait for next week for updates regarding the actual availability of 3G services from MTNL, as they've promised.

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Related Links
MTNL's 3G Services Finally Come to Mumbai
Gurgaon to Get 3G by July
MTNL (Mumbai) 3G HSDPA Card: Price Details
Tag keywords
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Discussion Board
(7) Comments
Nico ROSBERG
,Mumbai, on Jun 23, 2009 02:47 AM
Yo whats up my MTNL employee's Rocky & Pankuri. Maggots do you understand what I meant in the first place? I said in the last line...If you get Internet from your cablewallah I'll come & beat you up. Also, I said Airtel seems to be the best. Which Indirectly implies MTNL is no.2. Maggots...I use TRIBAND myself...DOWNTIME does indeed EXIST. MAYBE for me coz I download 320 GB's Per month from their night unlimited PLAN so maybe they cut me off Thinking this Maggot NICO...is ripping us OFF. LOL! Yeah One more thing I forgot to mention & ask..whats you UPLOAD/DOWNLOAD speed shown by your modem in 192.168.1.1 in the browser? I was having 1 mbps upload/2mbps download but these maggots downgraded me to 256 kbps last month. I had to call GOD KNOWS how many NUMBERS of theirs finally got hold of their "Server Room number" where they manage speeds...they then put me on 512 kbps upload. I'm on that now instead of 1 mbps before coz of that my download speed is 220 KB/s..instead off 450 KB/s before but doesnt matter as 220 KB/s is 2mbps which I pay for. BUT the point is these MAGGOTS downgraded me to 256 kbps and I had to call god knows how many frekaing numbers to make my speed good, they firstly said all false things saying my line is faulty Im like blow me. So all in all if you maggots dont know how to use internet or your plans to the full dont say it works great. It has DOWNTIME and Their CUSTOMER SUPPORT CAN BE BETTER. It's NOT THAT WORST as Sify or your CABLE WALLAH...but it needs improvement. That's all I wanna say MAGGOTS PEACE. Nico SIGNING OFF!
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Kuber
,Mumbai, on Jun 22, 2009 02:11 PM
There is nothing in this story. MTNL, at the time of the launch had said that it will take sometime for them to roll-out. Get your facts clear first.
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Nico ROSBERG
,MumBHAI, on Jun 22, 2009 12:45 AM
These MTNL faggets & maggots can't even run their Triband serivce properly. This crap always goes out at night or mornings....not to mention during the office hours 10 am - 7 pm their Speed is MISERABLE! I get better speed from my freaking GPRS mobile while downloading at that time. So what's the point of their shitty broadband? Take night unlimited...sit up all night & download? Still at nights this crap goes in and out. You call 1504..WE HAVE A SERVER PROBLEM. Server is down. Yeah right freaking maggots. The only company in INDIA to offer decent I REPEAT DECENT not good Internet could be AIRTEL. Rest are all a bunch of crooks & theives none better than your cable wallah. Well they are better than your CABLE wallah...Don't even think about getting Internet from your Cable GUY...If you do..I will come to your House Personally & BEAT THE HELL OUT OF YOU & YOUR CABLE WALLAH! xD
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Rocky
,Mumbai, on Jun 22, 2009 10:33 AM
COMPLETELY DISAGREE. Till date from last 2 years the MTNL Triband service has been working exceptionally well for me with absolutely no downtime! I tried Sify, Airtel, Reliance and finally settled on Triband.
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Pankhuri
,Mumbai, on Jun 22, 2009 11:52 AM
While Nico may have suffered with MTNL Triband, I’d have to agree with Rocky. In my case too Triband as well as MTNL’s GPRS service has worked exceptionally well in the past year. (I was miserable using Sify before that.) In fact, they’ve barred my outgoing calls since I didn’t pay the bill on time, but the GPRS service is still zipping! :-D Not once has there been downtime.
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Yogesh
,New Delhi, on Jun 22, 2009 11:18 AM
I agree, completely with poor service of MTNL, For last 2 years I never got an always on connection. Most of the time their server is down. Although I belong to Delhi, it is same here. They have no solution. On 1504 they just write down the complaint and take no action on that. As I reside in Govt. colony, I have no other option for broadband.
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Girish P
,Bangalore, on Jun 22, 2009 10:36 AM
Well if you ask me, this 3G business is all gunda-gardi of BSNL and MTNL. Why were this two incompetent outfits given permission to sell 3G and all the other capable providers like Vodafone and Airtel not allowed??? Vodafone and Airtel have time and again proved their better quality of service and after sales. BSNL and MTNL have had more than 3 months advantage with 3G and still they are unable to provide anything to the customer - So SAD, so PATHETIC
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