Best (not cheapest) mobile internet access

peterv

Hi all,
I'll be spending 6 months around Derha Dhum (north of Delhi), and I need high-speed internet access for my job.

We won't be in the city, the nearest internet cafe will be at 2 hours (in the city).

What is the BEST system I can get? Money is not an issue (my job pays), I'd rather pay 100 US$/month or even more for better internet access.

I understand I can buy a USB stick that goes in my laptop that gives me internet connection? Any tips/brands/gotchas welcome.. thanks!

peterv

For example, here they have 2 options: a data card or a USB modem. http://www.airtel.in/wps/wcm/connect...less+Internet/ Which one is better?

gaurav1441

I prefer USbs to data cards. You can check out Reliance and Tata they are claiming much highe3r speeds than others.

Aishah

Peter - do you mean Dehradun? If so, hopefully one of the members from there can tell you which one is the fastest and most reliable. Where I am presently, at Landour above Mussoorie, which in turn is above Dehradun, Reliance doesn't work at all. The ones that do seem to be Airtel, Idea, and Tata. This really is a localized sort of thing as to which is going to work well for you.

I would wait until you get to the place where you are going to stay, and then ask about amongst the locals as to which connection is the most suitable. Idea is quite popular up here, and it also has an USB modem.

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Indizen

Tata Indicomm is the best

peterv

I do mean Dehradun. The farm where we're staying is about 20km from the city. Someone there uses Airtel and says the internet is really bad - she didn't have a connection for an entire week.

Is it possible/likely that with another provider, converage would be better?

Also, remembering that money isn't really an issue (employer pays), is there an option, that uses perhaps a different technology, that is markedly better than the standard usb sticks/cards? Like a sattelite thing or something?

Indizen

Does Tata cover Dehradun? Go for their USB modem.

Indizen

Sify has a system that uses an antenna that catches the signal direct from their towers. I used it for several years without problems, then ran into a major bottleneck with extremely poor quality of service.

Aishah

I've heard a few people complain about Sify - if you have a landline telephone, I think the fastest of the lot might be whatever broadband connection is available for the area. You really need to wait until you check out what is going to work for you there - the hills etc. here do all sorts of interfering with signals. What one person can get down the road and around the corner, the other one can't! Will you have a landline telephone where you will be staying Peter?
Tata USB has been used by a friend staying up here in Landour where I am - and no problems, although the odd time when the server is 'down', just like my connection with Airtel. It has generally been running quite decently during the mornings but it is pot luck for afternoons and evenings as to how the speed is. For instance tonight, I'm keeping my fingers crossed this post will go!

Well, that took 18 seconds, so not bad really! Last year, I had many problems with Airtel and its server being down but so far for the last 6 weeks I can't complain. My connection however is only a mobile GPRS - EDGE provisioned one. So would not be as fast as the USB ones I think.

lonelyaztec

BSNL is the best.

I as in a jungle in karnataka, and had full reach.

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Aishah

BSNL mobile for internet connection, lonelyaztec or for broadband via landline? We have BSNL broadband in Jaisalmer and on the whole it's quite good. Mostly for mobile connections it's good all over India, except up here, when Airtel is better!

Indizen

I have used BSNL through a landline phone modem, and connectivity is good, but the bills are higher.

thejag

if the company pays and there is no limit you can check services from HughesNet. from what i remember their cheapest plan in india was Rs.10000 or about 200 USD.




Same thing. CDMA 1X and GSM/edge gives pretty much the same performance with indian operators. the only thing faster will be a 3G connection or EVDO on CDMA.

ashutoshrawat

About mobile internet connectivity I would like to say that it is slow anywhere in India. I was using Reliance USB connection for internet in Dehradun last year and it was extremely slow.I dont think you can get the type of service you are expecting anywhere here from a data card/mobile.(Although I might be wrong because situation has improved in last one or two years).Speed also depends upon your location , signal strength, congestion etc .At Some places reliance would be better and at some other Tata ,it depends. So where exactly you would be residing near Dehradun,maybe I know someone living near that place so I can ask him.

Aishah

HughesNet - thejag, is this an Indian operator? I have never heard of it, and is it via landline?

Interesting to read about those connections - I was under the illusion that Data Cards or whatever might be faster. The 3G CDMA faster connection is not available everywhere though, is that right? I know BSNL were getting something very fast along those lines but it is still only in certain cities - a while ago I looked at their website, and it was in Jaipur but not in Jaisalmer. I wonder if in Dehradun?
And do you know what other operators are providing it?