Pan India’s 3G Mobile service operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) once again slashed the price of its plug-n-play 3G USB Dongle (3G Data Card) from Rs. 1600 to Rs.1280 (Excluding 5% VAT) by 20% approx as a promotional offer for its prospective customer.
BSNL 3G Data card (Terracom LW272 and HFCL 3.6 Mbps) is now available at all BSNL Customer Service Centers Rs.1280 (Excluding 5% VAT) only. Please not that the total cost of 3G Data card will be Rs.1344 (including 5% VAT). The offer will be available in Kolkata, West Bengal, Tamilnadu, Chennai, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and some more circles and valid up to 2nd October, 2012.
BSNL also offering Start-up Kit (SUK) price of Rs.100 (Incl. of S. Tax) with 3G prepaid SIM card and free data transfers (Download and Upload) up to 1 GB for 1 month on the purchase of 3G Data Card.
BSNL also offers 3G data tariff plans for postpaid and prepaid starts from Rs.25 to Rs.3000 in all circles.
BSNL 3G Data Card (Terracom LW272 and HFCL 3.6 Mbps) will enable anytime, anywhere instant High Speed wireless Internet connectivity up to 3.6 Mbps for laptops and other computing devices, thereby significantly benefiting business users, roamers and travelers.
Shubham Pathak March 27, 2013 at 12:09 am
The speed written on data card is 3.6Mbps. But the speed I have withe data card is 10-30Kbps. The quality of device is poor.
kartikbhai August 15, 2012 at 10:42 am
Hello,
Review is very useful, correct and clearly places information.
This info is not exactly placed on BSNL website and does not give exact amount of the product.
Thanks Sanjay.
varun July 31, 2012 at 10:14 am
is it roaming free……
Syam July 31, 2012 at 6:32 am
The speed will also depends on the frequency which your mobile operator uses. In kerala the three mobile operators are using the 900 mhz and the rest others are using the 1800 mhz. Only BSNL , idea and vodafone are using 900 mhz. So they can provide more speed than other operators in 2G network in kerala. If we are taking on about delhi circle we can say that airtel in delhi is using 900 mhz. This is because during that time the first 3 operators who bid for a certain circle (22 mobile circles in india. each state is divided as each circle. And metros like delhi mumbai kolkata chennai as different circle) got the 900 mhz which is more efficient to provide 2G.
Sanju July 22, 2012 at 1:36 pm
I have using BSNL-3G simacrd. Can I have use as 3G card as a BSNL data card.
Sanjay Bafna July 21, 2012 at 4:58 pm
The offer is available in Tamilnadu, Chennai, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and some more circles as mentioned in the post.
ravi gupta July 21, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Mr Sanjay.
In BSNL no letter is found anywhere in which 3g DATA CARD Slashed. From where you get this news.
ravi gupta July 21, 2012 at 4:49 pm
@pushkar
Yes.
Through 3g Recharge STV.
pushkar July 15, 2012 at 7:30 pm
guys m from punjab can i change my bsnl 2g sim to 3g without changing my number.. if yes, pls tell me how…
ad India July 11, 2012 at 7:01 pm
yes, just send ACT 3G to 12345
balaji July 11, 2012 at 6:41 pm
guys m from chennai… can i change my idea 2g sim to 3g without changing my number.. if yes, pls tell me how…
ansh July 11, 2012 at 10:20 am
to sanajay bafna ………. for which circle of BSNL this offer is availble
Idris July 11, 2012 at 12:52 am
I have observed excellent speed of IDEA in New Delhi real 256kbps on 2G network!!!
Idris July 11, 2012 at 12:51 am
Conclusion 2G has capacity of upto 256kbps but operators like DOCOMO /T24/Virgin provide you with only 40kbps of speed or less in Pune same is the case with aircel, Airtel is better and Idea is very intermittent.Vodafone is not good not bad…
Sumanta July 10, 2012 at 8:16 pm
Its not a trick nd not a disadvantage of any network. All things are responsible by EDGE/EGPRS (5+1) Class 32 bandwith network. Thanks gys. nd there are no possibility to stop by any operator.
novicefreak1 July 10, 2012 at 3:22 pm
@ad India
I have tested on mobile device…Samsung Omnia Pro…a WinMo:)
novicefreak1 July 10, 2012 at 3:20 pm
amazing!!!,,,u have typed so much of info using mobile!!!!!!!,,that too in proper format and no typos/short names. Great work Saurabh. I have read wiki earlier,,,but a simple explanation as you had done for edge is much better
tx.
Tharun George July 10, 2012 at 3:13 pm
@Saurabh
Also all vendors expect nokia says max speed 236kbps, if the device can support 473kbps why does a company say only half speed? Also nokia says max 290kbps. Companies always go with max speed.
Also in Wikipedia “EDGE can carry a bandwidth up to 384 kbit/s (with end-to-end latency of less than 150 ms) for 4 timeslots (theoretical maximum is 473.6 kbit/s for 8 timeslots) in packet mode.”
I got the following from a website.
“Some high end mobile, usually also supporting UMTS also support GPRS/EDGE multislot class 32. According to 3GPP TS 45.002 (Release 6), Table B.2, mobile stations of this class support 5 timeslots in downlink and 3 timeslots in uplink with a maximum number of 6 simultaneously used timeslots. If data traffic is concentrated in downlink direction the network will configure the connection for 5+1 operation. When more data is transferred in the uplink the network can at any time change the constellation to 4+2 or 3+3. Under the best reception conditions, i.e. when the best EDGE modulation and coding scheme can be used, 5 timeslots can carry a bandwidth of 5*59.2 kbit/s = 296 kbit/s. In uplink direction, 3 timeslots can carry a bandwidth of 3*59.2 kbit/s = 177.6 kbit/s.
While the numbers are quite impressive it should not be forgotten that a single carrier has 8 timeslots of which two are reserved for signaling on the first carrier. Using 6 timeslots for a single mobile means almost the complete carrier is used for the data transfer of a single mobile. Under realistic conditions it’s unlikely a cell has that much free capacity to offer next to voice calls.”
I got the below from another website xda-developers.
“Q: What is EDGE/EGPRS (5+1) Class 32 & what’s the advantage it carry over EDGE/EGPRS (4+1) Class 12 devices?
A: In simple words 59.9 kbits of more speed or around 08 KB/s more download speed on same edge network.
Explanation: An EDGE/EGPRS Class 12 (4+1) device can support data traffic slots of (4+1) means (59.9×4 down + 59.9 up) so roughly make it 236.6 kbits of total download data traffic or 236.6/8 ~= 29 KB/s download data speed.
And an EDGE/EGPRS Class 32 (5+1) equipped device has one more data slot for us to use so you get (59.9×5 down + 59.9 up) roughly 296.5 kbits of download data traffic or 296.5/8 ~= 37 KB/s or 08 KB/s more then a Class 12 (4+1) device.
NOTE: Please see wiki for exact math and more details.
Extra Notes: It looks like more of a trend then cost involved in this hardware selection. As you can find cheap nokia devices equipped with Class 32 EDGE, whereas Top of the line Samsung Galaxy Note carry a Class 12 EDGE.”
This clearly states why nokia says only 296kbps and not more than that. Download slots are for download only and upload slots are for upload only.
Conclusion: So max speed for most nokia phones or class 32 devices can be up to 296kbps. While most USB modems and low end phones with class 12 have max speed 236kbps.
ad India July 10, 2012 at 1:56 pm
what device u are using? Usb dongle?
Saurabh July 10, 2012 at 1:27 pm
@novicefreak, Active Set Units or ASU is also known as Hand-Off in mobile computing. I can explain it here but it will broke my thumb as have typed a lot via phone. So better you learn about it on Wiki. They have good explanation on Hand-Off technique.
Saurabh July 10, 2012 at 1:19 pm
@Tharun George
I think you didn’t understand what I explained. You are again telling the same thing as you have never seen that much speed i.e 400+ Kbps on EDGE network with your eyes.
Phone vendors or USB modem makers write 236/296Kbps by taking 4/5 Time Slots only out of total 8 (for downlink) and rest 3 are for uplink as these are the standards set by 3GPP. As I said a phone with EDGE 32 has 8 Time Slots and these slots are not restricted for downlink/uplink in 5:3. So if a user is only downloading stuff, 7 or even all the 8 time slots can be used for downloading. In that case it will be 59.2KbpsX8=473.6Kbps and user will get same speed practically.
As far as speed capping is concerned, at my place speed capping on 2G network while 3G de-active is as follows- All checked by MDMA
1. Aircel- 8680 Kbps and 472Kbps when Tata Docomo network is selected.
2. Vodafone/Videocon- 2048 Kbps
3. Idea/Reliance/Tata Docomo- 472 Kbps
4. Airtel/BSNL- 256Kbps
If you are still confused give me your mail id so that I can send you screenshots with speed more than 400Kbps on Aircel and Reliance EDGE.
Most students and people in India accept what is written in books or Internet but it is always better to use your own brain than just accepting what other tells. Books are just for reference, rest is all on brain.
No vendor will come and tell you about the time slots. It is only people like me or other who live their lives on practicality rather than theoretical, can tell you.
Just because you haven’t studied and understand things well, doesn’t means there is no device that can give speed more than 236 or 296Kbps. All EDGE Class 32 devices in market has 8 Time Slots and all the slots can be used if only one work is carried out.
For Information on EDGE multislot, do read EGPRS article on Wikipedia. Devices with Class 34 EDGE with 10 slots are also available in market and users using it can get speed upto 590.2Kbps and that too PRACTICALLY in idle conditions.
novicefreak1 July 10, 2012 at 11:54 am
Excellent post, brilliantly explained. Let me share my two cents….
While on Vodafone I use to have speeds of 400-500kbps in edge mode during night hours after 1145 PM.(3G was not there then). Though the speeds were fluctuating edge is superior in vodafone. Now, I moved to BSNL via MNP and I am suffering speed and signal problems. Voiced at PGPORTAL and things are in progress. BSNL is considering “network optimization”, I donot really understand that, but hope something positive happens here. BTB what is ASU? Active set units, how does it influence …. I found 27 asu, 8 asu etc on my device while testing…..
Tharun George July 10, 2012 at 11:35 am
Your talking of EDGE Technology theoretical max speed. No EDGE device supports above 236kbps.
If you are using a USB modem or phone just check specification to know your max speed which will be 236kbps at all time and some nokia phone support 290kbps but not practical.
Also most network limit 2G speed to 256kbps, just check with MDMA software.
Saurabh July 10, 2012 at 8:39 am
Please read the line, you can get speed upto
414.4Kbps i.e 59.2Kbps practically as , you can get speed upto
414.4Kbps i.e 59.2 X 7 Kbps practically.
As far as speed in IDM is concerned, it may or may not show the exact speed as sometimes it don’t update data for few secs and then shows things all together. Say if you are getting speed of 30kB/s and downloading using IDM and it don’t update for 2 secs and then suddenly updates the data, it will show 60kB/s but things get normal in few secs. Those who have slow processors or have many tasks open on PC/Laptop may feel this. Better user Netmeter app with no duplicate settings or check the status of connection to get the exact details.
Saurabh July 10, 2012 at 8:24 am
@Tharun George
@ad, @sumanta, @bipul and all others who are confused with EDGE speed, please read this carefully as you all are confused on many points.
EDGE service depends both on network and handset and so does its speed. A handset with EDGE Class 32 support has 8 Time Slots and theoretically 5 slots are alloted for downlink and 3 are for uplink. Every time slot (TS) has speed upto 59.2Kbps. So, 5 downlink slots means a maximum of 59.2 X 5 = 296 Kbps. This is the reason why companies like Nokia write 296.6Kbps EDGE speed support in specification of their handset.
But practically you can get speed more than 296.6Kbps. See how? These days operators are using backhaul network that can allot upto 7 time slots for any direction. Say if you are downloading only, they can allot maximum of 7 TS for downlink and 1 TS for uplink. As your handset has a support for total of 8 timeslots and 7 slots are allocated for downlink, you can get speed upto 414.4Kbps i.e 59.2Kbps practically.
In Class 33 EDGE, 9 Time slots are available and 8 can be allocated for single purpose i.e either for downlink or uplink. In Class 34, 10 TS are available.
Most of the Nokia phones released after 2008 come with EDGE Class 32 support. In case of Samsung, their majority of handsets have Class 12 EDGE and maximum of 5 slots can be allocated for one direction.
Even most of the 3G USB dongle with backward support to GPRS/EDGE comes with Class 12 support only.
But we rarely get speed over 296 Kbps as network is used by many. In morning time you can get speed upto 400Kbps on EDGE Class 32 handsets and it’s not a joke. I’ve tested it myself and going to share with you my experience.
Few years back when Aircel launched it’s services in Haryana in 2010, I was downloading some content on my phone Nokia N73 ME which has Class 32 EDGE support in morning time and when I checked Connection Manager, it was showing speed between 45-53kB/s. I was surprised to see this as what I had read in specs was a speed of 296.6Kbps but it was actually 360-424Kbps and took screenshots to let other know this. When I researched about it on sites like 3gpp, wikipedia and many others, I got the answer why I received that much speed. When I used Reliance, I got more surprised when I saw speed of 62-70kB/s i.e 492-560Kbps and at some blogs, I found users discussing the same. One of the user clarified that, this can be fone with backhaul support and user device don’t matter in this case.
I’m on Aircel now and using Tata Docomo network and after 1AM to 6AM, I get a normal speed between 45-55kB/s. On my dongle K4505 with Class 12 it is between 26-35kB/s.
Users in cities or big towns might or might not experience this due to congestion and many other factors which includes distance between tower and device too.
annonymus July 10, 2012 at 8:22 am
you are right
Tharun George July 10, 2012 at 3:17 am
@Sumanta
The MAX EDGE speed is 236kbps. You cannot exceed that limit. The quakcom or anyother chip is designed to support only these speed on your phone or modem.
Try search IDM Fake speed on google.
ad India July 9, 2012 at 10:34 pm
kindly dont share it, bcoz if bsnl notice this they will block it..
Sumanta July 9, 2012 at 8:21 pm
@Tharun George
for ur kind information I have download 8MB file in 20sec speed 289KBPS with IDM and its easy to prove that ur wrong that its impossible to download only 40KBPS speed.
ad July 8, 2012 at 11:10 pm
thanks for the info
ad July 8, 2012 at 11:08 pm
haan.. Voda, idea r airtel 3g network e 2g pack use kra jay..
Tharun George July 8, 2012 at 10:40 pm
In kerala vodafone not allow 3G subscribers to activate any 2G packs. So not possible.
Till last week Idea allowed 2G packs for 3G subscribers with 128kbps download speed and 1.2mbps upload. Now I heard they also not allow to use 2G packs by 3G subscribers.
Airtel allows to use 2G packs by 3G subscribers but speed just 80kbps.
Another advantage is that if you are currently subscriber of any of the 3 operator above and want to use any other 2 operator, just activate 3G and use without porting. All tariff and balance same.
SHIV July 8, 2012 at 9:08 pm
@Tharun George
bsnl 3g speed is upto 1mbps
krishnendu July 8, 2012 at 8:42 pm
@tharun george
vodafone/idea/airtel allow 2g packs to be used in 3g??
krishnendu July 8, 2012 at 8:40 pm
@tharun george
vodafone/idea/airtel allow 2g packs to be used in 3g?
Tharun George July 8, 2012 at 4:58 pm
Its not a trick, its just 2G speed. 256kbps is not a 3G speed. Most operators set 2G speed at 256kbps. But due to network problems and congestion we will never reach that speeds. When we use 2G on 3G network we will get the full 2G speed.
Operators already know it, BSNL even asks customers to switch to 3G to solve many network problems. Private operators who allow to use 2G GPRS packs throttles 2G speeds to 128kbps. But BSNL offers full 2G speed on 3G network.
I always suggest to switch to 3G if you have a 3G network and 3G phone. The advantages are
1. Nokia phones have slightly more stand by time on 3G networks.
2. Congestion free network.
3. Better and steady 2G internet speeds.
4. Phone heats less on 3G when using internet.
5. Talk and surf simultaneously.
6. Calls have more quality and clarity.
7. Fast call connectivity.
8. Fast internet on low signal.
9. Idea, Airtel, Vodafone have ICR were you can use 2G from one and 3G from other with same tariff.
10. All above at no extra charges.
Tharun George July 8, 2012 at 4:46 pm
@bipul
Here is my speedtest result
2G pack on 3G BSNL: speedtest.net/result/1543720184.png
2G pack on 2G BSNL: speedtest.net/result/1551954503.png
Tharun George July 8, 2012 at 4:31 pm
256kbps speed and 32kbps download rate. The main advantage is the spead is steady at 32kbps will not change at all during download. Also we can talk and download simultaneously.
IDM tries to fake speed many times. IDM shows above 30 and 40 for DOCOMO and some other operators while the max 2G EDGE speed of phone and netsetter are 236kbps. Use mobile partner to get a good graph of speed.
Tharun George July 8, 2012 at 4:27 pm
Its not illegal. we are getting only 2G full speed on 3G mode. private operators know this and they reduce speed to 128kbps or below and they say 2G unlimited.
BSNL is kind enough to provide 256kbps both on 2G and 3G even without activating 3G. Private operators will not allow to use 3G network without activating 3G.
bipul July 8, 2012 at 3:02 pm
@ad ano
enjoy speed speed……..
ad ano July 8, 2012 at 1:36 pm
@ Suma, why are u sharing this ? Do u want bsnl to notice this and stop this ? Dear friends, if u are using 2g packs in 3g mode then enjoy speed, but dont share it in public bcoz if bsnl notice this they will take step . Dear telecomtalk , plz delete those comments & dont publish that kind of comments again, u guys use the trick & enjoy speed but dont share it publicly.. Plz
bipul July 8, 2012 at 11:11 am
Download speed 250Kbps or 250KBPS with IDM?
Nilay July 7, 2012 at 11:28 pm
yes…it is@biharibabu
jagan July 7, 2012 at 11:14 pm
using 2g packs in 3g sim and using 3g mode in 2g pack is a legal or illegal ? Will it be noticed by operator ? Pls clarify !
Saaki July 7, 2012 at 11:05 pm
I like it
raj July 7, 2012 at 8:31 pm
@Phulkala
no chance..even after 2yrs going thru current scenario.
biharibabu July 7, 2012 at 5:56 pm
nilay evdo is best incomparision of 3g rates
Tharun George July 7, 2012 at 5:13 pm
At ebay.in 7.2mbps Idea/Airtel unlocked Huawei 7.2mbps modem costs only Rs 1300. It has sms, MMS, USSD, Call features.
21mbps AT&T Unlocked huawei costs around Rs 2k on ebay
Tharun George July 7, 2012 at 5:09 pm
Use 2G packs in 3G mode. You will get full 256kbps speed.
Suma July 7, 2012 at 4:29 pm
I use Rs-98 2g pack with 3G sim card. Speed- alaways 70 to 150 Kbps. Download speed 250Kbps with IDM.
Jagannath July 7, 2012 at 3:55 pm
It’s a good plan…
Nilay July 7, 2012 at 2:59 pm
Getting 700 kbps speed on an average in BSNl EVDO UL 750 Plan (Kolkata)…should I go for 3G?? Any advice or suggestion??
Phulkala July 7, 2012 at 2:37 pm
The price of the modem should be reduced and be made available to common people in the range 400 to 500 rupees then only broadband penetration will be possible in India. Also the 3g network which is only limited to cities should be brought to rural places and the data prices should be slashed to 50rs per gb. I hope the BSNL and the private operators will read this and will implement the same in a month or two…….
Sudhakar July 7, 2012 at 2:30 pm
BSNL,
Good move. Please reduce the price of 21.1 Mbps modems also (if you provide).
AP July 7, 2012 at 2:19 pm
@pradatta
Fully unlimited without FUP is really unlikely on a wireless network unless some brilliant scientist comes up with a magical modulation scheme that multiplies the current spectrum’s bandwidth hundreds of times. There just isn’t enough bandwidth. And even if there is plenty of spectrum available, it is always a shared resource unless frequency is reused by installing dedicated Line Of Sight antennas at the ISP and your home.
So, don’t expect FUP to go away. As usage patterns in the country become clearer with long term data, operators might tweak FUP to increase or decrease network loading depending on subscriber base and density. But only operators with no subscribers and idle networks can afford to sell No FUP plans.
Sathish July 7, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Good Move!
ved July 7, 2012 at 1:59 pm
Still costly as i have buyed (unlocked) Reliance 7.2 Mbps modem in 1300Rs and Airtel 7.2 Mbps modem in 1250 Rs
Anil July 7, 2012 at 1:49 pm
bsnl is now being complicated 700 for 6 gb with 3.6 mbps only other gsm provider having speed upto 7.2 mbps normally. Then why we opt bsnl with such stupid plan and service.
pradatta July 7, 2012 at 12:59 pm
we dont want low cost modem we want low cost plans 700 fully unlimited not FUP