Reliance Broadband NetConnect Plus Vs Tata Indicom Photon Plus

By Partho, Gaea News Network
Saturday, July 18, 2009

reliance-netconnectArrival of high speed broadband USB modems has refashioned the way people access and used Internet. You can just plug and play with USB modems on the go. With big players like BSNL, Airtel, Reliance and TATA indicom involved in the Plug2Surf game it is getting highly competitive. We had already done a comparative study on various wireless broadband Internet providers.
In a closer-tie, two giant telecoms companies Reliance and TATA indicom are hyped to be going neck-and-neck with their USB Modem services.  Reliance Netconnect broadband + and TATA Indicom Photon + are being widely discussed and compared in different forums. Let’s take a comparative look at the high speed broadband USB services.

Let’s find out where’s the difference

Speed& Connectivity

Relaince NetConnect Broadband + Evdo (3G) claims to offer a speed of 3.1 Mbps and a uplink speed of upto 1.8 Mbps. It claims to be the fastest Internet connection. It’s said to offer a 30 per cent higher downlink rate compared to other wireless broadband offerings.

Tata Indicom Photon+ broadband claims to offer speed upto 3.1 MBPS. TATA Indicom’s service in certain parts seems disappointing with people still waiting the speed to shoot the beyond 1100 Mbps mark.

Area of Coverage

TATA Indicom claims that it,s USB device can work anywhere in India by automatically switching over to non HSIA Coverage areas also. But, there’s no denying TATA Indicom suffers from a poor coverage, limited to certain cities. It’s just available in certain parts of Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Jaipur, Mumbai, Jammu & Kashmir & North East States.

Reliance is way ahead than its rival in terms of coverage. Their coverage extends to 35 cities covering the highways and railways. The service runs through most part of the cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmadabad etc. Currently the service covers the following Indian cities:
Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Bangalore, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Ernakulam, Erode, Guntur, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kakinda, Kolkata, Kota, Lucknow, Ludhiana,Mumbai, Mysore, Nagpur, Patiala, Pune, Rajahmundry, Salem, Surat, Thiruvananthapuram, Tirupur, Udaipur, Ujjain, Vadodara, Vapi, Vijayvada and Visakhapatnam

Modem Charges

Reliance has three different Wireless Broadband USB modems – Huawei EC 1260, Huawei EC 168 C and ZTE AC871 at a
cost of Rs 3500. The modem charges for Tata Photon Plus is Rs.3600.

Tariff Plans

Let’s take a look at Reliance’s tariffs for Reliance Netconnect Broadband Plus service. Reliance Netconnect Broadband+offers a number of flexible tariff plans that comes in Netconnect Broadband Postpaid tariff and Netconnect Broadband Prepaid tariff. The plans start with pay as you go for available at Rs 299 monthly rental with Rs 2 per MB beyond free Usage. For the nocturnal workers the Broadband+10GB @Night goes perfect. It offers 10GB@ Night with a monthly rental of Rs 499 and 50 paise per minute during day beyond usage charges. Further, there’s a Broadband+10GB Night Add-on Pack for Rs 199 monthly rental that offers 10 GB of bundled usage. The timings for night extend from 10 PM to 6 AM. Further there are plans for 5 Mbps, 10 Mbps, 15 Mbps and

TATA Indicom Photon + tariff plans start from Rs.500 per month to Rs.1500 per month. For the Photon+ Lite Rs 500 plan, you get a bandwidth (download+upload+browsing) of 0.5 GB per month and for the Photon+Super Surf Rs 1500 plan, you get 15 GB. Photon+ also has a Surf @ Nite plan at Rs 950 for 2 (Days) and 10 (Night). The charges for extra downloads are Rs. 2 per Mb.  In case you wanna pay for what you use TATA Indicom offers plans like Use n Pay which has a monthly rental of Rs 250, the costs for extra download is Rs 1 per min.

Discussion

Photon
August 1, 2010: 5:41 am

Tata’s Photon+ offers a rather good service; other users who have commented may have been located where the higher speeds are unavailable. I haven’t tried BSNL’s, but their rates are lower. Vodafone does not offer 3G yet, which their customer service representatives will tell you right away.


Atul
July 26, 2010: 12:05 am

I agree with most of the people that Tata Photon+ is absolutely useless in terms of their claims. Their customer service is rubbish with incompetent people employed at call centers and they don’t hesitate to provide incorrect/inconsistent information (only if you get through their unfriendly and boring pre-recorded system!!). Would not recommend anyone to buy Tata telecom product/services….BSNL is great…being a govt enterprise you at least know what to expect. Tata is worse than even nationalized banks….


ADD
July 25, 2010: 11:59 pm

I would not recommend anyone to buy Tata Photon+ or any other service. Their customer care/service is absolutely useless and frustrating. The call center employees are incompetent and provide incorrect as well as inconsistent information. The call center number and pre-recorded message system is worse than even banks and doesn’t get you the right answer. Even the direct Tata sales personnel were unable to provide proper responses….extremely frustrating experience and repenting to have bought a Tata product.

July 19, 2010: 6:29 am

I like to buy the Tata photon +


Rahul Awad
July 11, 2010: 8:45 am

Dont go Tata Photon Plus connection. First 2 months they will give good service and then will there “natak”. From last 1 week there server is down and with out intimating these people are doing there maintance. Customer support is so bad…if u tell them we are not getting the speed…we get ans that atleast ur getting the internet.

The most imp things is that there hidden charges….while taking they will tell that so and so speed u will get …this and that. but in this they have charged me for sending mails also. other than down loading….changres they also charge for sending ails also. lot of hidden charges are there.

I will suggest every one to go for BSNL high speed connection. Every thing is transprent and at a very che rate. Where tata or reliance is charging Rs1000 for 5 GB….and BSNL is charging 750 and that unlimited. better go BSNL this tata service is totaly fake.


Nanditha Adithya
July 2, 2010: 11:27 am

I have used both Tata Photon+ and Reliance.In this i felt Tata Photon+ is horrible and Reliance was performing quite well.But both are nowhere if you compare with BSNL.


Theguy
July 2, 2010: 6:30 am

If u r a heavy downloader photon+ is best coz @ rs750 u get 2hrs a day with unlimited download


Girish
July 1, 2010: 7:25 am

BSNL best hain mere liye!

June 16, 2010: 4:37 pm

Makes sense. I love your form of writing, its different, in a good way! Keep it up


Santosh
June 6, 2010: 8:14 am

Please don’t use the Reliance Netconnect Broadband Plus. The service is very poor and speed is very less. The download speed is 2Kbps to maximum 100Kbps(rarely). Moreover they promise speed upto 3.1 Mbps not equal to. Beware of their trap and the way they make people fool. Thes things will become clear after you purchase the non refundable Modem. Then their voice tone changes so the services. Better go for Wired connection or BSNL EVDO


Amit
June 6, 2010: 2:49 am

Dear All
I owned Reliance Broadband Plus and had worst experience. Before you purchase Modem they will promise all sort of non sense things. But the moment you purchase the non refundable Modem of Rs. 3000 (Now Rs 2500) their tone will change and so will the new rules and promises. Second thing speed is never 3.1 MBPS. See the promise carefully, it is upto 3.1 Mbps not equal to. Speed depends on the number of people using the same tower and your connectivity. The download speed varies from 5 Kbps to max 80 Kbps and average it is less that 25 Kbps. Second thing they have cunning limit of few GB download in a month added with heavy serivce tax. If you thing you will get the plan change in one day as promised or will change it from prepaid to post paid then here is reality. The Plan will be chnaged from next Billing cycle ie it takes one month to change plan. Changing to prepaid is not possible before three months of usage. So from my bitter experience please don’t opt for this Reliance BB+, But go for Tata Photon + or BSNL is best.


Dr. vinesh nagare
May 27, 2010: 8:14 am

reliance webworld at bajirao road, pune is a worst centre. i get very bad service at this centre. one executive sold me broadband kit but does not activate it due to lack of light in the office. he does not give any information about activation to me. i went on & waited at my office for 5 days for activation. but the person does not give any answer. so i went to office again. then another one activate it. but till the date i does not get receipt for my cash paid.


Suraj
May 23, 2010: 6:54 am

Is there any plan in Reliance NetConnect of Rs. 801 for Unlimited Surfing and downloading??

pls reply and help


TATA PHOTON 9225570387
May 6, 2010: 1:19 am

9225570387…WE PROVIDE THESE PRODCT SERVICES 09225570387
INTERNET OPTIONS IN THE WORLD
THE REST WORLD IS USING THIS TYP OF NET CONNCETIONS
The Internet Connection is one of the most important usages of computer systems today
• Broadband Internet Connection
o Broadband Technologies
o Broadband Implementations
o Broadband Applications
• Wired Internet Connection
o Dial-up Connection
o ISDN Connection
o DSL Connection
o Cable Connection
o Fiber-optic Connection
o Power-Line Connection
• Wireless Internet Connection
o Wi-fi Connection
o WiBro Connection
o WiMAX Connection
o UMTS-TDD Connection
o HSDPA Connection
o EVDO Connection
o Satellite Connection
o 3 G (TATA PHOTON, RELINCE, MTS)..
o 4G (TIKONA)

It offers high speed, high quality, low cost and easy to use Internet connection at home in two categories:Broadband and Hi-Speed Plans

Add:
we provide TATA PHOTON AND • Broadband Internet … 4G Mobile Internet Network to Enter Indian Market After introducing 3G in the Indian … Tata Indicom introduces Photon+, its new Wireless Broadband Service
TATA Photon Plus is a plug and play service as the user just have to do to plug the USB Modem into your Laptop or Desktop PC and access high speed internet. the gadget is completely free from wires and can be used with the different OS-Win 2000, Win XP, and Win Vista. The new USB Modem enables you to experience Tata Photon+ Mobile Broadband service from wherever you are.
Here are the features:
Speed of 3.1 MBPS (Upto 3.1 Mbps Downlink speed . Actual internet speed will depend on multiple factors like time of the day, number of simultaneous users, web page accessed, etc.)
Access from anywhere – where there is mobile signal coverage
Plug and Play – east to start – carry in pocket your internet connection
Great Style free from wires.
USB interface connect from Laptop or your Desktop PC

Internet connection is becoming need of everyone with the change of structure of work as well as advancement in technology. Due to the great technology revolution and the increased number of laptop users, wireless USB Broadband or Broadband Mobile connection is becoming more popular.

The major Player in the internet market of India are Reliance, Tata Teleservices and Tata Communications, Airtel, BSNL, Idea, You Broadband and Hathway. They offers different plans fom Limited to Unlimited usage with different speed options. Here you get detailed features, tariff plans and Reviews of Broadband Connections available in your city.


virus
April 24, 2010: 10:33 am

what are the future plans of these reliance and others in broadband —— are the prices coming down inb next few months !@#!#!

April 14, 2010: 10:44 am

We Provides Airtel, Reliance, Connect & Tata Indicom Internet Broadband Connections. Also Provides, Tata Photon, Reliance, Airtel & Connect Data Cards
Sector-38, Chandigarh, Sector-38
Chandigarh -160047 (Chandigarh), India
Contact: Mr. Anand
Phone: +(091)-9888212809, 9888212809


Selva
April 8, 2010: 10:44 pm

I am interested in buying reliance broadband plus so tell me about the prepaid and postpaid plans to my email address please!

April 2, 2010: 1:52 am

When you are in not good state and have got no cash to go out from that point, you will need to take the loan. Because it would help you definitely. I take credit loan every year and feel fine because of it.


sourabh
March 31, 2010: 11:25 pm

pls send terif plan on my id of tata photan.


Rajhans
March 23, 2010: 9:37 am

I bought a Tata Photon + on 31st July 2009 having number 9230040689 9230040689 and account number 934185426.

After using the photon I found that speed is very very low. I contacted customer support they gave me various settiing but couldnot increase the speed. The speed I was getting was in the range of 100 to 300 kbps. This was tested from the website provided by Tata support executive. The complaint was registered vide email on august 10 2009 vide docket number 184342283.

Various executive visited my house, changed various setting in the computer but could not increase the speed. They checked with 2-3 computers at various locations in house and even used their own laptop to check but of no avail.

On complaining to nodal office on august 11 2009 he closed the call informing me that speed between 256 kbps to 600 kbps is Ok. and had no explanation why my Photon is working so slow.

On appealling to to Applleate Authority vide no. 193074549 dated 14th October 2009 I am yet to receive any answer.

I hv stopped using the connection and is running around to get my refund from the comapny, for this expensive white elephant where the ad claims speed upto 3.1 MBPs but comapny says it is not possible.

Now they are only asking for the bill which they have generated without solving the problem. The 3 bills I have already paid without getting any service, they are silent about it. The complaint to Nodal Office and Apellate Authority is still pending.

March 18, 2010: 2:29 pm

i have idea net setter device which is working soo poor m cheated by idea , they clim for 223kbps but my 1 giving me on 3kbps

March 18, 2010: 8:15 am

i’m also wondering which modem is better EC 168 C or EC 1260?

i personally like EC 168 C better but the customer care says it’s stopped production 10 months back

wonder if it’s true


ALo
March 17, 2010: 12:30 pm

Hi Everybody,

I agree that TATA guys are doing harm to their brand name and laundering money from people. And I learned it hard way.

I bought a Photon+ connection but before buying I asked for a demo of it. The demo was rather satisfactory in that it showed a speed of more than 1 Mbps. So I immediately applied for a connection. But to my surprise, when they delivered me my device, it was giving me a speed of 3Kbps (claim is for 3Mbps, irony!!!). I mmediately recognized that I was being cheated by TATA guys. This is how I stablished it: For the demo, they had broght a Huawei modem and it installed the Huawei Access Manager program to connect to net and monitor statistics. But the device that they gave me was not Huawei one and it installed some crap software that looked ugly, difficult to navigate and just to know the current speed that I was getting, it connected to internet and asked me to download a 5 Mb file which means my download limit would burn too. When I called the sales manager of TATA Photon dept (Pune), they said there should not be a problem since it is 3.1 Mbps device. When I insisted that they were chaeting me, they accepted that the demo had some different device and the one that I was getting was different one. Another thing is that, when I connected to net, the netwaork that was being shown was that of Photon Whiz and not Photon+. And it never became Photon+.

Apparantly, they were trying to fool me like they are fooling so many other people. Now I am following up with the authorities to get whole of my money back. Burning my time and money to get my money back. Awsome TATA!!!!

Be careful guys, please research before you buy these USB modems from TATA or any other provider. This technology is not so mature in India yet and companies here are always on the look out to plunder people. After sales support is miserable everywhere.

About TATA Photon+, please be sure to take the demo, ask the model that is being used for the demo and before you hand out any cash confirm that they have the demo model available in stock. Else they will give you some crap and charge moollah for that.

Very few might be aware that TATA guys have various manufactures for various USB broadband modems that they offer. I bought a Photon+ connection. It has Huawei and Epivalley(not sure on this one). Huawei is for Photon+ while Epivalley is for Plug to Surf Whiz. I was being given the latter card and not the Huawei one. Beware!!!!!!!


Prem Kumar
March 10, 2010: 12:42 am

I want to take a broadband connection. So, after readind the article, I want ro go with Reliance Broadband +. So, tell me if there is any unlimited plans avilable


Shekhar
March 1, 2010: 6:30 am

according to me..wait for next two to three year as
this high net speed concept is new here and is waiting for more competition.It is nice that these two companies have started a new era of technology but is still far away from the level we are wondering of.
I used both the connections,they are fast,but not so great to compare internet speed of any local cafe of developed countries.


juvala
February 25, 2010: 5:05 am

hi, i want a prepaid net usb device with maximum or unlimited download speed right now, am downloading with my mobile and its so slow. pls suggest. my location is near madurai


santosh
February 11, 2010: 10:55 pm

Anyone using tata or reliance broadband in wagholi, Pune, near wagheshar temple area? I need to know which broadband connection will work there…I need minimum speed of 128 kbps. Please respond

February 10, 2010: 5:34 am

i wanna buy a data card what should i chose tata photon or reliance give me advice

February 7, 2010: 9:26 pm

I am using reliance net connect its awesome man


Max
February 7, 2010: 2:47 am

hello every1,
am 1 of the lucky guys who have been using TATA PHOTON 2.4Mbps unlimited plan for just Rs1500 for more than a year witout any problm in guwahati, assam. it is not tata photon+. the looks is just like BSNL EVDO and i get the speed usually from 500kbps to 2.1Mbps(2100kbps). doesn’t make any difference in download or upload as i’ve tested both(TATA PHOTON 2.4Mbps and TATA PHOTON+ 3.1Mbps). Its very good here in Guwahati.

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