Here’s a grand overview of the situation of data packs in the Kolkata Circle

Kolkata is one of the three metro circles, and it's a crowded telecom zone with more than 23 million mobile connections as of July 2015. Kolkata has had a rich telecom heritage. During the British rule, the first experimental electric telegraph line was started between Kolkata (then Calcutta) and Diamond Harbour in 1850. After the country's independence, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Shri Jyoti Basu, ushered in the cellphone revolution in India by making the first call to Union Telecom Minister Sukhram in August 1995. Sixteen years later (in 2012), India's first 4G services were launched in Kolkata.

The circle has an active connection or VLR rate of 91.61 percent. Vodafone has the best and most robust network here, which helped them in gaining the first rank in terms of subscriber base, while Airtel, Aircel, and Reliance Mobile have almost similar subscriber figures. These networks have both 3G and basic 2G services. On the other hand, Airtel has 4G network, which was deployed as India's first 4G LTE network, and it is rapidly expanding it to counter the upcoming threat from Reliance Jio & Vodafone's 4G services.

As a lot of consumers use data services these days, operators are rapidly changing their data packs, which became a reason of confusion. To the end this confusion, we have decided to share the cheapest data packs of the Kolkata circle along with information on operators' network quality. Here is an chart that’s embedded below, which will quickly help you in getting details about subscriber figures of those wireless networks in Kolkata.

Vodafone

We have earlier shared that, Vodafone has a robust network in Kolkata whether it’s 2G or 3G. It's the only network among private operators that is using lower band and premium quality airspace for its 2G network and 2100 MHz band for 3G services. Most of its 3G BTS are enabled to provide 21Mbps speed, but that doesn't mean you would get the same speed as speed varies based on several terms.

Vodafone has also launched the 'Double Data' offer in the circle, which gives customers unmatched offers at relatively lower prices when compared to market rates. We would suggest to check Double Data offer from *121# . Vodafone offer's Double Data on select denominations depending on a customer's usage pattern. As it is providing the best speed in 3G, Double Data is a really good deal.

Here are the other offers that one can choose from Vodafone.

Airtel

Bharti Airtel has 4G, 3G, and 2G networks across the Kolkata circle, but their 4G network is limited in some key areas. When it comes to 3G, they have a robust 3G network, which might not be as fast as Vodafone's 3G, but its coverage is great with clear sound quality for voice calls. Airtel is promoting 4G as well as their 3G (as 'Platinum 3G’), and encouraging users to use 4G by introducing '4G at 3G prices' .

Aircel

Aircel has the third largest subscriber base on its 2G & 3G networks. When it comes to 2G, they are offering good speeds if you have a 3G-enabled smartphone, and if you choose their 3G network while having a 2G pack. It also offers unified data packs which can be used on both 2G & 3G networks. The telco is increasing BTSes to reach out the new zones.

As of now, they have cheapest 3G data packs, but regular users doesn't get customised 3G or 2G offer if they use usual packs, which is a drawback as the market leader Vodafone is providing Double Data on recharges. Cheapest data & calling rates were the main reason which helped the company in attract a huge subscriber base in a short tenure after Uninor's network closure.

Reliance Mobile

Anil Ambani-owned telco has its presence in the Kolkata circle through CDMA & GSM technologies. The telco provides both 3G & 2G services under the GSM standard. However, it's CDMA customer base is decreasing, and it lacks EVDO Rev. B in the circle, which has forced it to sell 3G Data Dongles to counter data-focused player like MTS. MTS has Rev. B services, and it advertises itself as a '3G Plus Network’.

At present, the network has issues on both 2G & 3G services. Many people are complaining about their services as QoS of their services is decreasing day by day. However, one can use Aircel network as they both have a network tie-up, but that works only on 2G. Their 3G network is wider than Aircel but constant average speed is below average. Their cheap data products are the reason why people still use it.

Idea Cellular

Idea entered in the Kolkata circle in 2009, and it has been rapidly expanded its 2G network since then. As a result of Supreme Court's verdict in 2012, its license quashed along with other operator’s licenses. After that, Idea bought some spectrum, and it now has a wide presence, thanks to its Indus towers venture where it holds 8 percent stake. Operators like Vodafone and Airtel are offering quality network, while Aircel & Reliance are providing cheap tariffs, so Idea gets unnoticed even if it offers cheap rates.

You can get a clear picture of that if you look at their ARPU in Kolkata, With 18 lakh users in the quarter of January, it has an ARPU of just Rs. 47.35, where market leader Vodafone has ARPU of Rs. 196.64. As of now, it is providing 3G through ICRA agreement with Vodafone, but speed are capped, so users prefer using Vodafone or Airtel & Aircel's network as they provide good speeds. In the last auction, the Aditya Birla-owned telco also arranged 3G spectrum, which they will use in rolling out its own 3G network across the circle.

Tata DoCoMo

Tata Sons-owned telecom unit has CDMA & 2G based GSM services in Kolkata. Earlier, it gained a lot of users as time they were providing cheap tariffs and unlimited voice calls. However, after the data surge, it lost customers due to lack of proper data network, while Aircel won consumer’s hearts for their dirt cheap rates and unlimited voice call offers.

Aircel also has a 3G network, and stiff competition from Airtel and Vodafone are the reasons why the DoCoMo is losing customers. Virgin Mobile, which was popular among youths for free data & voice offerings, was merged into Tata DoCoMo.

BSNL Mobile

The state-run Calcutta Telephones provides BSNL Mobile services in 2G and 3G, and it recently decided to shut down CDMA Voice & 1x services. BSNL was the fist company to launch 3G services in the city, but their network is not upto mark. Signals drop frequently, and sometimes the signal vanishes away.

The telco lacks market distribution network, and its user base is just 9 lakhs even after combining all its wireless services . Even after providing cheap rates, consumers don’t want to use their service due to their low quality service.

MTS India

Sistema's local unit is providing CDMA data and voice services under the MTS brand in the Kolkata circle. It has Rev. B data network in the circle, which the network advertises as '3G Plus Network'. As there aren't popular CDMA handsets in the market, the company chose the Wi-Fi platform to attract new customers.

The company is currently providing Wi-Fi dongles, but the '3G plus network' lags behind Vodafone's HSPA+ 3G (21.1 Mbps) network in real-time. You can see their data packs for CDMA data services on mobile phones in the chart below.

We would like to request you to verify these data packs with you respective customer care numbers if you are planning to recharge those denominations. Also, kindly share your views.