Aircel (Kolkata) 3G Service – Speed Test and Review

AIRCEL launched its 3G services on 24th Feb in Kolkata circle as we shared on TelecomTalk. The operator offers free trial of its 3G services – 250 MB data on 3G network and 50 minutes of video call. This free offerings will be valid till 1st March, 2011.

We officially tested the Aircel 3G / HSPA+ network and data speed in Kolkata telecom circle. Note that Aircel has licenses for offering 3G services in both Kolkata & West Bengal circle, till now Aircel officially rolled out 3G services in Kolkata metro area.

Aircel 3G – Following are the observations :

It is interesting Aircel does not allow any users to use its 3G network by setting network mode as 3G/UMTS rather users have to activate Aircel 3G first on their mobile no. Activation of Aircel 3G is done when you opt for Aircel 3G Trial Offers. To use Aircel 2G Pocket Internet you have to send STOP 3G to 121 to deactivate 3G, otherwise data charged will be deducted from your main balance. You can check your GPRS & video call balance anytime dialing *126*1# (for main balance dial *125#)

Though some subscribers reported activation of Aircel 3G takes too much time, I found it was a matter of 2 minutes. I suggest to activate Aircel 3G you should send the sms START 3G to 121 from a 3G mobile phone. Then use it on data card.

Our first hands on with Aircel 3G is done with Samsung Galaxy 3 which is a HSDPA 3.6Mbps supported android phone. I tested with Speedtest.net Android App:

When We tried Aircel 3G on my PC with ZTE MF190 data card (HSPA 7.2Mbps) network detected HSPA i.e. Aircel installed HSPA of 7.2Mbps BTS in my area. Signal strength is quite good – 5 bars of signal (RSSI of -83dBm). All speedtest is done in indoor environment, outdoor network is expected to be better.

Aircel is not providing blanket coverage, as I found some areas of my home place Barrackpore is not covered with Aircel 3G. May be because in sub-urban areas Aircel installed 1-2 3G nodes. In selected locations Aircel installs 21Mbps HSPA+ BTS but speed will be restricted at maximum 7.2Mbps as Aircel has no 3G data plans offering more than 7.2Mbps bandwidth right now.

Speedtest Results :

With Mumbai server :

With New York server :

Downloading a file via Internet Download Manager:

For More Details on 3G DATA Plans click here : Aircel 3G Data Plan Details.

Arindam Dutta June 6, 2013 at 4:02 pm

Recently I have connected a 3G aircel sim of no 8013773349.my signal is very weak.speed 1 to 4 kbps.If it is not rectified soon I shall quit.my ph no 8017776717

ashya March 9, 2013 at 10:14 am

Aircel 3G does not work properly its 2 slow. And the help is also not usefull.

raj kumar November 1, 2012 at 4:50 pm

aircel 3g varr good

Raju Das September 30, 2012 at 6:40 pm

i cannot aircel 3G with sufficient because network cannot working perfectfully as result i saw network tower symbol available but (aircel & H) logo not found, searching, no service, i use d-linked modem with manually set the 3g network

Susanta Basak June 26, 2012 at 10:14 pm

Required Aircel g connection for Internet usage in Belghoria area , Saltlake Sec V area & greater Kolkata

raju September 5, 2011 at 8:00 pm

can i use 2g service 0n 3g Aircel dongle e170

VIVEK SHARMA August 21, 2011 at 3:34 pm

Aircel service is best for me thanks for AIRCEL 3G team ana whole staff.(thank you)

josh June 18, 2011 at 1:41 am

@Surajit
With due respect would you mind consulting with people having superior knowledge in English before posting in forums, i believe it would help you greatly.

soumo May 9, 2011 at 6:23 pm

hi frinds
aircel 3G network is not strong enough. it does not catches inside houses in sovabazar area.Their online recharge with credit card fails all the time.

Saurabh March 6, 2011 at 2:11 pm

Sorry brother i use tata docomo for net and that provides 6GB in 96 but i use 48pack for 1GB thats enough for me for computer i have broadband but thanx any anyway

Rajaul March 6, 2011 at 1:53 pm

Recharged with Rs.98 in bsnl and got 4GB.
Hurrraay……

Surajit March 4, 2011 at 12:24 am

Aircel lonch their 3G service in kolkat, i live at naihati in kolkata circle but here is not available their 3g service, above 1 week have passed already…

-RP- March 2, 2011 at 8:38 pm

@Kaushik
got it

Kaushik March 2, 2011 at 4:27 pm

-RP- :
@Kaushik

Kaushik :

TD :
reliance did not started 3g services in rest of bengal…. so it should be EVDO….

Reliance did launch their 3G services in WB. I’m now in Haldia and I’m currently using Reliance 3G only.
For Aircel 3G, it’s BULLSH*T!!

Reliance 3G on 3G Sim or do the 2G SIM also give good 3G speed.

sorry mate, can’t disclose that.

-RP- March 2, 2011 at 3:51 pm

@Kaushik

Kaushik :

TD :
reliance did not started 3g services in rest of bengal…. so it should be EVDO….

Reliance did launch their 3G services in WB. I’m now in Haldia and I’m currently using Reliance 3G only.
For Aircel 3G, it’s BULLSH*T!!

Reliance 3G on 3G Sim or do the 2G SIM also give good 3G speed.

-RP- March 2, 2011 at 3:48 pm

Shahnawaz :
Still not getting any 3G signal in Kolkata

Shri Ganesh March 2, 2011 at 10:59 am

Wow! Very nice! They are almost as good as BSNL when BSNL initially launched 3G!!

Sourav March 2, 2011 at 2:41 am

@Pajat
I have used RELIANCE 3G DATA CARD of ZTE. It is not a EVDO, it’s showing HSPA+ network.

Shahnawaz March 2, 2011 at 12:16 am

Still not getting any 3G signal in Kolkata

Kaushik March 2, 2011 at 12:10 am

TD :
reliance did not started 3g services in rest of bengal…. so it should be EVDO….

Reliance did launch their 3G services in WB. I’m now in Haldia and I’m currently using Reliance 3G only.

For Aircel 3G, it’s BULLSH*T!!

Pajat March 1, 2011 at 11:18 pm

Sourav :
I have used RELIANCE 3G Data Card in RoWB circle, where 3G is not launched still now. But I have found download speed is 600-700 Kbps average in IDM, which is some time goes to 1 Mbps or more than that.

Which one did you use:
1. Reliance 3G card
2. Reliance Netconnect+ (EVDO) card
3. Reliance Netconnect 3G card (3G+EVDO)

???

TD March 1, 2011 at 10:49 pm

reliance did not started 3g services in rest of bengal…. so it should be EVDO….

Sagarkinkar March 1, 2011 at 9:47 pm

@Sourav
Vo shayad cdma ya evdo hoga dude.

Sourav March 1, 2011 at 8:55 pm

I have used RELIANCE 3G Data Card in RoWB circle, where 3G is not launched still now. But I have found download speed is 600-700 Kbps average in IDM, which is some time goes to 1 Mbps or more than that.

SOURAV CHATTEJEE March 1, 2011 at 6:38 pm

aircel jyada smart ban raha hai….

network mode 3g/umts change karne ke baad 2g sim ke sath 2g data plan sabhi operater me use kia ja skta hai AIRCEL KE ELAWA…..

MEANS DAT IF YOU WANT TO USE 3G TOWER OF AIRCEL YOU NEED TO HAVE 3G DATA PLAN ACTIVATED FIRST……UNLIKE OTHER OPERATERS WHERE 2G SIM ME 2G DATA PLAN KE SATH 3G NETWORK SELECT KARNE KE BAAD 3G SPEED ME DOWNLOAD AND SURF HOTA HAI…….AND RELIANCE ME TO 3G SPPED V MILTA HAI….

BUT AIRCEL NE ISE LOCK KAR DIYA HAI…..2G DATA PLANS KE SATH AAPKA 3G NETWORK NAI PAKHREGA………………………………………..

vishal March 1, 2011 at 5:47 pm

Well, It seems nice to make VOIP calls and downloading files. Latency is also low. So, good for streaming.
Has anybody taken speed test result on unlimited tariff of AIRCEL 3g usb stick???
I am little bit sure that this type of speed will not be provided.

sam from kashmir March 1, 2011 at 3:10 pm

@Fahad
Vodafone dosn’t 3g lancence 4 jk

RajeeV March 1, 2011 at 2:07 pm

I get Good Quit Good Speed &m HappY

http://img11.imageshack.us/i/screenshot4gs.png/

Rohan Singh March 1, 2011 at 1:43 pm

http://www.speedtest.net/result/1179034154.png

Varun March 1, 2011 at 1:33 pm

Raj :
Good but not exceptional speed…..bsnl has been giving better speeds with 3g…

Bsnl giving worst 3G service. Downloading speed capped to 1 mbps(unlimited plans) & horrible browsing. Normal 3G users speed capped to 2 Mbps. Advertised 3.6 Mbps & now giving 1 Mbps, this is cheating…

Dip March 1, 2011 at 1:02 pm

I can’t able to register in Aircel 3g network here in kolkata. I have sent almost 10 sms’s. Today is the last day of the introductory offer. Bull**t

Rashmin Joshi March 1, 2011 at 12:53 pm

Aircel 3G Speed test using Huwaei 3G USB Modem, few pics: http://goo.gl/pfgnk

Internet download manager, torrent and browsing were on during the speed test.

Speed was decent consistently above 2 MBPS and reached maximum to 4.2 MBPS.

Fahad March 1, 2011 at 12:50 pm

speed is reaalllly slow….
they r providing the best possible pathetic speeds…
rgsm consistantly is providing 3-4 mbps. ….waiting for the real 3g by vodafone

Satish March 1, 2011 at 12:43 pm