Airtel introduces Broadband Speed Cap on Unlimited Plans + Speed on Demand

Airtel Broadband has quietly introduced a cap on broadband speed its customers can use every month. For instance, if you look at their website for Home 2222 Plus plan, the company is supposd to provide 1 Mbps unlimited data transfer for a month. However, Airtel now says that they provide speed of  1 Mbps for the first 50 Gigs of data transfer later it will be capped at 512 Kbps. Last October, Comcast in the US introduced similar caps restricting 250 Gigs of data transfer / month. However, unlike other ISPs Airtel still hasn’t gone ot the extreme of Traffic manipulation. As Google speaks of Open Network and Net Neutrality, Telcos are running for cover 🙂

It is now evident  on why Airtel introduced this new product – Speed on Demand. If you are one of those heavy users and have exhausted your 50 Gigs limit and urgently need to download a Linux ISO, then all you can do is, make use of the Speed on Demand and pay extra for the same.

Quickly wanted to comment on the promise of Airtel’s broadband speed – 1 Mbps is only upto your ISP node 😉 In reality, it will be between 2/3rd to one-half of the promised speed if you do a Speedtest.

Airtel’s product manager has done a good job by introducing this product to boost the bottom line of his company. Additionally, he should put an effort to make Airtel’s website compatible with Mozilla Firefox.[If you feel its compatible, drop me a line and I’ll show how it is incompatible]

9 Comments

  1. On a related note, how is Airtel able to maintain its 2Mbps plan at Rs1300/- while a 2Mbps plan from BSNL costs Rs3000/-?

    I see a download cap on both these plans and they are not unlimited.

    Also they don’t say “upto ~2Mbps” and they clearly say 2Mbps while there are other plans in both BSNL and Airtel that mention “upto ~2Mbps”.

  2. If Airtel caps speeds after 50GB of data transfer to half the promised speed, is it justifiable to pay for speeds that one does not get after the cap?

    I am on a speed of 2Mbps/month/unlimited plan and pay about Rs.3000. That amount is fair for the speeds that I experience, but if that speed is capped to half, say 1Mbps, then logically I should be paying only for the 1Mbps speeds that I experience, and NOT for the 2Mbps speeds. Does that make sense?

  3. If Airtel caps speeds after 50GB of data transfer to half the promised speed, is it justifiable to pay for speeds that one does not get after the cap?

    I am on a speed of 2Mbps/month/unlimited plan and pay about Rs.3000. That amount is fair for the speeds that I experience, but if that speed is capped to half, say 1Mbps, then logically I should be paying only for the 1Mbps speeds that I experience, and NOT for the 2Mbps speeds. Does that make sense?

  4. Are U aware that U can get them to give U 1 MBPS uncapped (without FUP) for 1099 + taxes …. U also get 100 mins free on landline(if U use them)…. just tell them U wanna cancel the connection and wait for their call….ask them to send it in writing about the FUP not applicable if U agree to keep the connection (as they might tend to change their words afterwards)… after they give a better plan…
    BTW Tata is giving 1 MBPS constant without FUP(in writing) no installation charges no capping for Rs.899 pm with a trial period of 2 months absolutely free… but only if they know U have Airtel BB…try it guys….

    Contact me if U need further clarification and details….

  5. Sorry…. in my earlier comment… it is 1000 mins free on landline…and not 100

  6. why use airtel ..?? reliance is far much better 2 Mbps plan costs 1300 with 100 min of free calls..
    speed is good and also there service is far much better then airtel (personnel experience)

  7. Airtel users can avail the services through existing sim cards. Bharti Airtel, the country’s largest telecom operator by subscriber base launched international video calling service for its 3G customers in the country.

  8. I’m trying to get speed on demand on the Airtel website but when I go through the steps, I encounter a message that an unexpected error has come up. How can I counter this? Any ideas. By the way, I am using Chrome as a browser and not Mozilla.

  9. why use Airtel Broadband i am using Reliance wired line broadband in lucnow & i am paying just 699 plan for 2 mbps real unlimited plan no data limit so enjoy ………….this

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