Airtel 16 Mbps

The broadband internet speeds are all set to rise for the Indian net surfer with Airtel announcing the availability of 16Mbps broadband, which now claims to be the fastest DSL broadband in the country. This could just bring back the internet war which we havent witnessed since over 5 years now.

This service, powered by Airtel's Carrier Ethernet Network, will be initially available in the cities of Delhi NCR, Chennai and Bangalore with phased roll-out to additional cities of Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai and Kolkata. Airtel delivers its broadband service through a fibre backbone of Carrier Ethernet Network with last mile delivery on copper using ADSL2+ technology, enabling ultra high-speed broadband which is scalable and affordable.

Airtel is offering 2 plans with 16 Mbps broadband
A. Speed Combo 2999 - 16 Mbps broadband speed with monthly data transfer limit of 20 GB for Rs. 2999 per month
B. Speed Combo 4999 – 16 Mbps broadband speed with monthly data transfer limit of 50 GB for Rs. 4999 per month

Airtel Telemedia Services joint president K. Srinivas said, “We are the leading private broadband service provider in the country and pioneered 8 Mbps broadband. It gives us great pleasure now to be able to introduce the fastest, wired broadband service on DSL.”

“We will be able to offer 16 Mbps broadband to 70 percent of the households in Delhi and NCR (national capital region), Chennai and Bangalore,” he added.

Currently, two tariff plans are being offered by the company for its 16 Mbps broadband at Rs 2,999 and Rs 4,999. The data transfer limit under the Speed Combo 2999 is 20 GB, while that in the Speed Combo 4999 is 50 GB.

Recently Airtel was in news for its fair usage policy.

Following is their take on Fair usage policy.

Airtel’s Fair Usage Policy is designed in such a manner that we continue to provide the best of internet experience to all our customers.

* Why a Fair Usage Policy?
A very small number of customers use an excessive amount of the network bandwidth, to the extent that it can impair the experience of others. The intent of Airtel's Fair Usage Policy is to provide the optimum internet experience to all customers.

* What happens in Fair Usage Policy?
Under the policy we have defined fair usage levels for unlimited data transfer plans and needless to mention, the usage levels set are very generous such that most customers will not be affected by the Fair Usage Policy.
On reaching the fair usage level, the plan speed would be rationalized by up to 50% for the rest of the monthly billing cycle. You would also be redirected to a page which will inform you that the speeds for the rest of the billing cycle month would be as per the Airtel’s Fair Usage Policy.

Please note that the speeds would be upgraded to the normal speeds at the start of the next billing cycle.

* What’s the impact of Fair Usage Policy on data transfer limits?
We assure you that the data transfer limits remain unlimited and no change has been made in the same.