Wireless Broadband – 3G or EVDO What is the Choice?
We at India have been watching a tag-of-war between mobile operators on basis of voice call and SMS tariffs for a while; it also put its feet in the desk of VAS to cut down the ARPU and net profits of mobile operators in an overcrowded market which brings mobile phones to the masses.
But we never saw the intense tariff war on internet or data segment in spite of about 373 companies having ISP license from TRAI out of which 99 are category A ISP (i.e. they can offer Internet services over all India). In 2004 Broadband Policy was announced with directions for the growth of Broadband which was defined as always on connection with minimum speed of 256 Kbps. It is fact that on wireline broadband segment BSNL is still the king, making its landline business still viable. But we need affordable Mobile Broadband.
In mobile broadband market we presently have only two technologies available – EVDO from CDMA operators (Tata Photon+, Reliance Netconnect Broadband+, MTS MBlaze, BSNL EVDO and Virgin vFlash) and 3G from GSM operators (BSNL and MTNL covering the nation). Private GSM operators who won 3G licences will roll out 3G high speed data services shortly, as spectrum allocation hopefully will be in coming September.
I am often asked “what to choose 3G or EVDO?” and this question comes only for Internet access while on move, but as I am comparing these two technologies I am covering other conveniences of them also.
Have a look into the exclusive Comparison:
 Wireless Broadband |
EVDO ( CDMA )
(Tata Photon Plus, Reliance Netconnect Plus, MTS, BSNL EVDO, Virgin) |
3G ( GSM )
(BSNL and MTNL – currently offering 3G) |
| Connection speed | Download speed is upto 3.1 Mbps, upload speed upto 1.8Mbps | At present download speed upto 3.6Mbps & upload speed upto 384Kbps which can be upgraded to 7.2Mbps and then 10.2Mbps.
BSNL/MTNL already starts selling wireless modems supporting 7.2Mbps, even some handsets (eg Nokia C5) is capable of supporting 10.2Mbps speed. |
| How to access | Mostly using USB data card, only Tata Indicom offers such speed on mobile also.
But you can call, SMS using the data card (if supported) from your computer |
Handsets and 3G Modem (USB or PCMCIA interface), Laptops/lablets with 3G SIM slot. |
| Services apart from internet access | Only Mobile TV
Video calling is not available though Tata Indicom launched Photon+ on mobile. |
Mobile TV, Video Calling – as SIM is coming with modems also.
While TV thing does not impress me, Video calling on 3G is coolest thing to enjoy. |
| Device Cost | Reliance, MTS, BSNL modem Rs 2299, while Tata Photon+ modem costs Rs 2499. Apart from BSNL other EVDO operators don’t have option to use unlocked/outside purchase. | MTNL modem costs Rs 1799
While BSNL’s modem comes around Rs 2000 which supports 3.6Mbps, the modem supports 7.2Mbps costs |
| Handsets | Fewer choices and only Tata Indicom offers EVDO on mobile. | A lot of choice is there.
Entry leval Nokia’s 2730 Classic offers 384 Kbps seeped and comes at Rs.4200 while Sony Ericsson Naite comes around 6000 bucks with a support of 3.6Mbps bandwidth. |
| Coverage | Compared to 3G, EVDO has limited coverage, while EVDO is not available speed will be as per 1X service (153.6Kbps) | 3G have awesome coverage, BSNL is doing an awesome job to cover most of the places before private operators put their footprints in 3G market.
Without 3G, you can still get internet access with 2G network (144 – 240Kbps) |
| Tariff | This is well diversified, for eg BSNL EVDO unlimited comes at just Rs 650/month
While other EVDO operators (all are private telcos) have no unlimited or night-unlimited plan. |
3G comes cheaper than EVDO. Unlimited data comes for Rs 2500, MTNL Delhi offering it at Rs 1800 |
But before you go for these things, know your needs first. If you need to access Internet on move on large scale try to get BSNL EVDO, if available in your working area. If you are using a 3G handget go for 3G – it is excellent one. But you sometimes need this wireless thing and don’t have 3G handset or connection I recommend MTS Mblaze, it comes with prepaid packs with lifetime validity, just use once in 180 days and it will be active.However MTS is not the cheapest in terms of tariff plans.
Interestingly most users of EVDO are not happy with the customer care services, and speed with their EVDO connection. Wireless speed depends on various factors like distance from EVDO towers, congestion of network, spectrum allocated to the operator etc.
In BWA auction Mukesh Ambani promoted Reliance Industries owned Infotel Broadband becomes the only pan India basis operator accept BSNL. As it is reported they will initially roll out WiMAX, followed by Long Term Evolution (LTE). The first phase of WiMAX will show the speed upto 23 Mbps and the second phase of WiMAX (802.16e), will deliver 50 Mbps. LTE release 8, will offer a hopping 270 Mbps download and 62.7 Mbps upload speeds. May be we will not get such speed, but still can dream for 10Mbps wireless connection in coming years.
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Are you serious?. You got me really scared. But there are many studies which say there is no such harm. Also here we use it at some distance isn’t it?. Please explain in detail. Also are there any precautions, since we can’t fully eliminate its usage but limit the damage if any.
@Nikunj
And so YES you can use skype, yahoo or google or what ever u want to make video chat…..
SKYPE with VIDEO and Yahoo msgr with video calling IS NOT VIDEO CALLING, strictly speaking. Video calling is actually using ur MOBILE to call another mobile and talk and watch videos!
The ones u told are called video chat
And yes download speed is technically 2 MEGA BITS PER SEC which means 250 KILO BYTES PER SEC. But no, you don’t get that much at all times. During peak periods speeds drop to 20 to 40 kbps. During no so peak time, speeds are good at about 50 kBps to 150kBps. And by peak periods, I mean many people using EVDO at the same time….
As far 3G is concerned BSNL is the worst service provider, if you still want to use get it and see the result you will have to stay all the time outside your home or office to get proper network coverage and more over the call dropping issue is one of the best in BSNL, has a lot to say but last not the list BSNL Customer care is one of the best in harassing its Customer just give it a try with your simplest question, and people out there please never ever Visit BSNL office will be very disappointed to the officers over there……
@Kamal Halder
You are wrong when you say “As far 3G is concerned BSNL is the worst service provider”. Because BSNL is the lone 3G provider. So there is no question of comparision.
By the way 3G is suposed to be “broadband on the move”. Other operators are planning to start 3G by Oct 2010 only in matros and it will take a time for them to roll out 3G in other big cities (Probably they will not launch 3G in samll cities soon). BSNL has already launched 3G in most of the cities (Big or small) Moreover there is no operator other than BSNl which has pan india 3G licence. So “broadband on the move” is not possible with other operators.
3G data is very costly then EVDO
I love bsnl 3g.. It is cheap and best in city.. Bsnl also install tower nw oly.. And its very new tech.. Recently bsnl lunch ftth(FIBRE TO THE HOME) Plans r nice..