So mobile broadband tariff is falling in India, but all efforts are from GSM parties. Basically all 3G/HSPA (Mobile Broadband) operators – Aircel, Airtel, BSNL, Idea, MTNL, Reliance & Vodafone India slashed their 3G/HSPA data tariff to a new level of affordability except Tata Docomo. (check our exclusive 3G Tariff Comparison Chart
My point is why CDMA players are reluctant to cut down their high speed data (EVDO) offerings? Even Reliance who slashed 3G pricing are not keen to cut down their netconnect+ data plan pricing. So is Tata Docomo (Photon plus & Photon Max) and MTS India (Mblaze and Mblaze Ultra).
Frankly CDMA operators have certain technical advantages, so that they can offer high speed data services on their existing 2G CDMA2000 1x networks using EVDO rev A and rev B. But as they don’t have to shell out huge money like 3G operators did to get 3G spectrum, CDMA operators should offer EVDO based data services at much cheaper prices, that is logically speaking.
But see what I find, MTS MBlaze Ultra and Tata Photon Max, EVDO revision B services are way costlier than even Airtel 4G. Even if you consider about Rs 8K device for Airtel 4G, on long run Airtel 4G seems profitable compared to EVDO rev B services from MTS and Tata Docomo.
Check on this graph representing Rs per GB data priced by Airtel 4G, MTS Mblaze ultra and Tata Docomo Photon Max.
In coming days 4G tariff is destined to fall as Reliance Infotel will come up with their best pricing strategy, so rev B services is going to be irrelevant considering the pricing they offer to consumers.What do you think ?
Nitin Kumar June 12, 2012 at 9:28 am
@Rudradeep
Dear saptarshi,
you mentioned the bsnl evdo plan as cheapest in india but why you dont think about the service of BSNL?? it is also so worst that no one can beat this in india in poor performance.So why should one choose bsnl??
Achu June 9, 2012 at 7:39 am
Hey telecom talk made BSNL change CMDA rates ..Wow hats off telecomtalk
sharath June 8, 2012 at 1:05 am
Hi RDB you have always been comapring only on the tariff not on the coverage, if you compare the coverage and the tariff you will find a trend wise versa, currently the 4g launch ahs happned only on two places and the coverage on the EVDO is much more higher than the 4g. a 4g customer will have more issue when he is roaming , where in the the evdo the coverage would be far more superior than 4g.
aniban June 7, 2012 at 11:22 pm
The biggest advantage of EVDO players is that they provide locked data card… People use it because they have shelled out a hell lot of money while buying the devices… So they are reluctant to change again… But I strongly believe that scenario will change within 1.5 – 3 years as these EVDO cards will be getting old and people will be reluctant to repair it as it will be very much costly and 3G/4G will be cheaper…and the biggest adv for the GSM players are they support portability…so monopoly does not work there…LET THESE BLODDY EVDO OPERATORS MAKE MONEY…AFTER FEW YEARS THEY WILL START BEGGING….
s.a.rahman June 7, 2012 at 11:09 pm
@pratik you are 100% right
Rudradeep June 7, 2012 at 5:21 pm
BSNL EVDO UNLTD plan is the best one, compared to wired broadband too, if you have good coverage at your place. So I didn’t mention BSNL EVDO.
Also 1x data is not my consideration while I am talking about 4G- LTE.
Tata docomo revised only 1 plan, that is not we expected while other players cut down all plans’ pricing.
Adarsh June 7, 2012 at 5:09 pm
Funny how statistics can be rearranged to suit one’s point of view. If you plot the monthly rental on Y axis versus data provided on X axis for each of the three service providers above, you will get a graph similar to http://i.imgur.com/KR7Rw.png – a cursory glance at which shows that Airtel 4G is actually the most expensive of these mobile broadband providers!
kingston June 7, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Rs.246 gives 1GB free data with Rs.216 talktime
saurabh June 7, 2012 at 4:39 pm
since bsnl has surrendered 4g spectrum i expect a push from them in evdo….but even now…bsnl evdo 750 unlimited plan is best among all providers..be it 3g/4g/evdo….btw tata photon sucks big time….
vijay June 7, 2012 at 4:11 pm
bsnl evdo provides cheapest data plan true unlimited in rs. 750.
bapu behera June 7, 2012 at 3:59 pm
ya that’s true after investing so much on 3g network deployment and on spectrum the gsm operators are giving cheaper data plans where these cdma operators are not developing there evdo network faster and there data plans are heavenly.but mts is cheaper and better amongst the cdma’s.tata and reliance are looters.
Joy June 7, 2012 at 3:45 pm
Very True Said that EVDO plans are much costlier, evdo modems are network locked so 1 can use only a particular operator. My opinion is to increase EVDO cell sites, as it has very poor coverage !! otherwise I think cdma operators should surrender their spectrum!!
Wangsuk Dapru June 7, 2012 at 3:29 pm
CDMA data plans will not get cheaper as its a risk to the operator cuz unlike 3G it is not device/handset dependent for e.g. there are two 3G handsets using internet at same location one has a HSDPA of 7.2 and another has 14.4 and one is class 12 and the the other is class 32 the class 32 will get better expereince; however in CDMA EVDO two devices accesing internet at some location the bandwidth is shared between the two and the exhisting users get slower speed every time a new user logs in the same location, which eventualy leads to congestion and the cost to upgrade a CDMA tower for data unlike GSM/3G is very expensive.
AJAY DUTTA June 7, 2012 at 2:36 pm
good statistics…. please do such study on 3G data too ….
Esmail June 7, 2012 at 1:31 pm
With the Data war surging through the telecom sector and 3G and 4G prices being slashed will see a clear dominance of GSM over the CDMA equivalent data services. Also since CDMA requires you to buy special modems which are network locked it makes no sense to invest in them, one would rather buy a factory unlocked 3G or LTE modem and pop in any operator’s 3G sim and use its service and if he is unhappy with the service he just needs to buy a new sim and pop it in, no need to invest in a new modem. The only way the CDMA operators can lure consumers into subscribing to their services after the 3G and LTE prices are further reduced, is by reducing their base tariff to 1p/MB which equals to Rs.10 per GB of data. The consumer would then simply have to recharge with topup vouchers just the same way as we do for talktime recharges, and then get charged only for as much data you use at the low base tariff.
Vikram June 7, 2012 at 1:18 pm
yes, thats wonder. Main reason behind this is that customers are bound to use respective services as they would have bought their data card. It pathetic.
indrajit June 7, 2012 at 1:06 pm
Mts mblaze is rocking in service by.
RajaKumar June 7, 2012 at 12:12 pm
@sukaadi
I am following all tariff charts.
Last month I have subscribed for 1GB @ 199/- post paid plan.
Except Aircel, all other operators tariff on higher side. Anyway Docomo come up with new pre-pay plan. For 246/-, 1GB data with 219/- core balance.
h rajpoot June 7, 2012 at 11:52 am
cdma will definatelly suffer if they keep going with such a rude tarrif….only bsnl evdo plans are good…….
Guest June 7, 2012 at 11:52 am
Himangshu, you are right. i am using tata photon,it has worst service in Mumbai.HSIA network gets down any time.at time i will use it on CDMA 1x with slower speed.i complaint many times to Tata photon but they always inform me that it is happened due to tower maintenance or network up gradation.
don’t use tata photon.
sukaadi June 7, 2012 at 11:52 am
@RajaKumar
You are not updated with the recent tariff revisions by all the 3G operators EXCEPT tata docomo…!!!
go thru this article telecomtalk.info/3g-tariff-war-begins-india/94653/
Currently, the one u said better & cheaper is the poor & costliest.
RajaKumar June 7, 2012 at 10:58 am
TaTa Docomo smart life plans are much better & cheaper than other operators.
For 246/- they are offering 600(720) MB data + 250 Minutes Local + National + On-Net Roaming.
Shri June 7, 2012 at 10:33 am
The best of all Broadbands is the BSNL Wired broadband. cheap and fast. Wireless broadband emits so much radiation to the nature which affects the birds, bees and human. We should know the pros and cons of the technology before adoption. Why dont TT publish the post about 2G, 3G, 4G and Mobile Towers radiation emission that affect nature? We just passed the World Environment Day.
Himangshu June 7, 2012 at 10:23 am
These tata photon are all flop services. Its better 2 move on 3G
akhilesh June 7, 2012 at 10:01 am
cdma 1x have max covrage (90% Villages)
so due its high demand
rate is high
4g & Evdo B covrage is only some big city
so it rate is down
for information rim 1x hvae 170/30days UL & 410rs/ 3mth plan(city unlimited)
Mohan June 7, 2012 at 9:47 am
The point is correct logically. But it seems there is a huge difference in terms of quality of service. We know 3g services are not considerably good at all places. I think this consideration makes CDMA players not showing interest to reduce data prices.
Pratik June 7, 2012 at 9:46 am
simple reason is, most of these devices were sold on postpaid segments to corporates and senior age group guys.those who dont follow markets.those guys keep paying whatever bill keeps coming,so why would operator cut down the tariff.
good article.
kepp it up
Saptarshi Roy June 7, 2012 at 9:37 am
You did not mention BSNL’s CDMA data plans – 1X Unlimited for Rs. 200 + tax and EVDO Unlimited for Rs. 750 + tax. No Fair Usage Policy what-so-ever. No other GSM/CDMA operator across the globe can beat this.
Upesh June 7, 2012 at 9:17 am
Yes correct point, even tata photon whiz 1x cdma services(max 153 kbps) have rates like 201 for 512 MB , rs.350 for 1 GB, rs.501 for night unlimited, rs.801 for unlimited,rs. 444 unlimited. is it worth to pay these amounts for 15KB to 22 KB speed ?