A major blow comes to CDMA users in India as India’s pure play CDMA operator MTS India who always prioritizes data over voice has gone in a wrong way – they started deactivating EVDO services on OMH RUIM card users (those are not using MTS Smartphones) without any prior notice, as subscribers at Kolkata, West Bengal and some other certain cirlces complain.
Back in September, 2011 MTS had launched data packs for voice customers. The packs went revised twice. MTS cleared the fact that these plans will provide EVDO speed on OMH RUIM, provided EVDO is activated by a simple process by sending SMS.
During this period MTS had three types of HSD/EVDO data plans – for OMH RUIM users, for MTS Smartphone users and for MTS MBlaze data card users.
In last two months MTS stopped EVDO activation on OMH RUIM without any clarification.
How MTS India messed up :
1. They deactivated EVDO without any prior notifications to customers
2. They deactivated EVDO in the middle of the validity of the previously recharged pack – this is a serious breach of conduct.
3. When a customer wants to lodge a complaint regarding this on MTS Data Support (955) – the customer care executive is not willing to give any docket no. i.e. no complaint is actually taken.
4. MTS is saying to get EVDO/HSD speed your plan is to be changed to smartphone plan.
5. From MTS there is no clear-cut tariff details regarding data plans for mobile users. Also when you convert your voice plan into smartphone plan, your existing plan benefits (say 150 min local onnet/day, 1p/2sec, 30p/min all local for lifetime etc) will be removed.
6. Will All@30paisa pack benefit i.e. data @ 30p/MB work on smartphone plan? – No answer from MTS.
Suggestion for MTS :
1. Separate data packs for mobile customers and data card users – mobile data packs are to be cheaper.
2. Hassle free EVDO activation on OMH RUIM cards
3. Separate packs for EVDO and 1x for mobile customers – all packs come with no restriction.
MTS is really doing well on CDMA front, specially bringing some Android smartphone with affordable price. But what is the use of smartphones if MTS behaves like a dumb when it comes for data packs.
With recently launched MTag 351 & 352 MTS offers two data packs, which are almost doubly priced than the cheapest 3G operator’s tariff plans. (Still we think CDMA is cheaper than 3G!!)
I called MTS data support on 955, they told me about three plans – Rs 107 (225 MB, 30days, 2p/10kB after the bundled usage), Rs 193 (600 MB, 30days, 2p/10kB after the bundled usage) & Rs 492 (1536 MB, 30days, 2p/10kB after the bundled usage). These plans I believe are old plans, even MBlaze plans, at par with 3G data tariff revision are way cheaper than these plans.
With cheaper unlocked 3G handsets, more & cheaper tariff options who will use CDMA in coming days? I can see a new wave of MNP for porting out from MTS, most of them are high ARPU subscribers.
souvik January 20, 2013 at 9:05 pm
I am using mts omh sim in cdma dongle.I am facing same problem.If I want to switch to smartphone plan,will the sim be usable in dongle?
Abhishek December 16, 2012 at 4:38 pm
Hii friends,
thanks to all for those information.. I have bought a HTC DESIRE VC (CDMA + GSM) handset..I want to take a MTS OMH RUIM..Is MTS providing ruim for omh handsets now apart from their own handsets? Any information will be highly appreciated..Thanks in advance.
Sougata Dhar Chowdhury August 8, 2012 at 2:58 pm
I wrote this mail to MTS today:
Thank you for your response.
I have thoroughly compared the tariff structure of MTS smart phones vis-à-vis other 3G services. This makes me to ask a few questions about the scenario we are presently in.
Have you designed the tariff structure of smart phones for only those places/towns where there are no other 3G operators present? Your tariff structure are so non-competitive/ non-attractive that people from cities where other options are available will never go for this service.
Why have you made the tariff the highest among all operators? Compared to that of the cheapest 3G available from Aircel, your tariff is just double. All other GSM 3G operators have reduced their 3G data tariff considerably and are around 25% cheaper than that offered by you.
With a subscriber base of one of the lowest among all, don’t you want to attract more subscribers before the ensuing spectrum auction? Do you think after 7th September 2012 even if you survive the auction for being the only pure-play CDMA operator, you will continue to gain high ARPU subscribers with this tariff structure?
Do you consider you smart phone tariff is MNP proof?
Hope you understand my concern and convey this to your management. As a bonafide subscriber, I seek passionate view on this matter.
With regards,
Sougata Dhar Chowdhury
Jagan T August 8, 2012 at 12:19 pm
//With cheaper unlocked 3G handsets, more & cheaper tariff options who will use CDMA in coming days? I can see a new wave of MNP for porting out from MTS, most of them are high ARPU subscribers.//
Its very pity that these words comes from a hardcore CDMA fan/user.
The true state of CDMA is exactly same as author RDB’s concern, irrespective of providers such as Reliance, Tata.
Once again Indian Telecom sector is going to ruled by the monopoly of GSM players ( read AirTel, Voda, Idea). Recent spectrum pricing also confirms this.
Sukanta M. August 8, 2012 at 10:24 am
I am using mts high speed Rev.A EVDO data service for more than 6 months with my smartphone.I was almost forgot my laptop as my every work related to web world was successfully done by my mobile with mts hsd data service.. Thanks to MTS for providing us the unmatched and most affordable data service in the town. But from last 3-4 days, I am not getting 3X/evdo signal in my handset.. I was forced to use third class 1X speed of mts which never crossed 5 kbps here. I tried to know the actual fact from 155 and 955 but the useless and uneducated mts customer care executives have no clue. Now I am able to know the fact from TelecomTalk that mts stopped hsd service in normal omh simcards & they forcing us to convert our numbers to their crappie dumbphone system. Are mts gone mad? This is the stage of telecommunication advancement & they are trying to go back to the stone age. Is it possible for a customer to forgot the lifetime benefits (for which he paid earlier) for the shake of activation of hsd on mobile whereas every other operator providing hassle free 3G Internet in mobile without any type of issues which we are facing here. So according to mts, we have to choose either evdo or existing tariffs.. Is not it? But they forget that we have a better option of porting out., they don’t need high ARPU customers like us. Who are the people behind all these decisions? MTS should sack this types of policy makers for their own benefit. Because customers are God now, they can choose as well as they can throw.
kishor August 8, 2012 at 9:42 am
hidden agenda of private operators
Sagar Roy August 8, 2012 at 1:05 am
It’s really the worst move by MTS.They cheated us. Their smartphone data rcv’s are more costlier than gsm 3G.If they want to survive in the market, they should have to introduce affordable & competitive data packs for mobile data users & they should have to stop the gimmicks of conversion of omh numbers to smartphone numbers. Otherwise high ARPU users like myself & my other friends will go for tata cdma who provides pre evdo activated omh ruim’s with unmatched tariff of 5GB evdo data @95 Rs.
So be aware mts.
Sudhakar August 7, 2012 at 10:38 pm
To all :
In Tamilnadu, Uninor customer care themselves said that the company will be shutdown on 31-08-2012 and asked its customers to port out (regardless of the number days with Uninor).
In the case of MTS, I think it is silently shutting down its services without prior intimation !!!. Users, at least port out of MTS soon !!!.
krishnendu August 7, 2012 at 10:31 pm
@sougata
why are not filing a complaint against Mts for breach of contract?It stopped service in the middle of a pack!
ruhul August 7, 2012 at 9:47 pm
this is the starting of downfall of mts…..i bet no operator can survive in india without high speed data…remember guys 48% of indian mobile user uses net in their mobile or pc….hope u dont get spectrum because u didnt deserve it
Sougata Dhar Chowdhury August 7, 2012 at 6:47 pm
Tariff of Smart Phones has been provided over email. Smart tariff? Ridiculous.
rimweb.in/forums/topic/34338-mts-stops-evdo-services-for-its-old-customers-using-hsd-voice-data-packs/page__pid__269301__st__15#entry269301
Pratul August 7, 2012 at 4:46 pm
CDMA is a wonderful medium for mobile broadband if harnessed properly just see US and china. Its just because of the single license scheme of GOI that killed CDMA which didn’t take off properly. MTS being the lone CDMA only operator would be contemplating shift from CDMA to GSM or both when new licenses are auctioned. There have been numerous articles suggesting the superiority of CDMA over GSM but the truth is that GSM is a winner in india and will be always.
CDMA RIP
Swaroop Chowdhury August 7, 2012 at 4:21 pm
I fail to understand the marketing strategy of MTS. How on earth their network-locked handsets are higher priced and the tariff are higher compared to that of OMHs?
I’m highly frustrated with MTS now. How can they deactivate EVDO without notifying? After providing some facilities as a public service, it never becomes the prerogative of the service provider to withdraw that without notifying. If you provide a part of your land as a road to the public, you cannot withdraw it as and when wished. This is a public service.
Amit Karmakar August 7, 2012 at 3:38 pm
I was looking for this confirmation and though T.T. has confirmed this. MTS is very poor regarding data services. Everything is vague and ambiguous about thier data tariffs. Their CC, even, don’t know what are the plans they have. I don’t know why they don’t introduce Rs.98 for 2GB or like this on 1x network. I’m frustrated with this stupid MTS. I have an MTS connection which does not accept any kind of data recharges. They promises to resolve but it is of no avail. I just stuck with this MTS.
Sougata Dhar Chowdhury August 7, 2012 at 3:17 pm
After my EVDO got deactivated the day before yesterday, I mailed my concern to appellate, WB-Nodal officer etc. My call to 9153955955 went futile on this matter.
The Nodal Officer apprised me that henceforth EVDO will be available only on SmartPhone numbers. So, I requested him to convert my number into a SmartPhone one. On the return mail he informed me that my number has been converted.
But I’m still getting 1X. I received no confirmation message on this. Yesterday I requested him to provide the details of Smart STVs, but I’m yet to receive any reply on this.
MTS has been unethical on deactivating the EVDO altogether without notifying about it or without giving any option of choosing 1X or EVDO. This is highly condemnable.
Tharun George August 7, 2012 at 2:36 pm
I think operators who lost license has gone nuts.
Saurabh August 7, 2012 at 2:24 pm
@Rudradeep, We can’t expect more from CDMA players. It mess-up like these which keeps users away from CDMA. Life is so simple with GSM. They have the transparency and easy to understand plans.
Though mobile 1X and EV-DO service plans were available from MTS but there was no information regarding it on their websites. I searched every single link to get details for Haryana circle but never got it. MTS has around 2.5 Lakh customers in Haryana and I doubt whether anyone of them have ever used 1X or EV-DO on their phones.
I hope Reliance Industries don’t go for 800 MHz band.