Airtel Flexishield 3g
1.25 GB Rs.675
2GB Rs.675 + Rs.75 = Rs.750
Rs.100 per GB after you reach 1.25 GB @ Rs.675 @ 3G speeds.
Till you reach Rs.2000, you get 3G speeds, till that time you would have used 14GB @ 3G for Rs.2000. Either enjoy free very slow surfing for the days remaining of the 30 days or get a new plan/connection again
3GB @ 3G
Airtel Rs.850
Verizon $35 Rs.1500 approx
Reliance Rs.899
Vodafone Rs.850
Aircel Rs.900
AT&T 2GB @ $40 Approx Rs.1700
10GB @ 3G
Airtel Rs.1550
Verizon $80 approx Rs.3400
Reliance Rs.1499
Vodafone Rs.2500
Aircel Rs.3000
AT&T Don't even think about it
Barring MTNL/BSNL nobody can compete Airtel in its cost factor, with the Flexishield plan asking for a basic Rs.675 for 1.25 GB and then 1p/100KB @ 3G speeds until you reach Rs.2000 per month which is the max they can bill you, after which you can either enjoy FUP surfing or take a new plan/connection.
1. All major Indian companies provide cheaper 3G than US companies.
2. Airtel is the cheapest of them all, overall, barring BSNL/MTNL which too are worth it only if you want to replace 3G as your home broadband.
3. IMO Nobody needs more than 5-10 GB approx of 3G bandwidth to just use on a mobile device unless you plan to replace your home connection/download hub with the same, for which 3G isn't fully prepared right now.
4. MTNL may be a better deal at Rs.1700 or so for Unltd 30 days, but what if somebody wants to use just about 5 GB, then why should he spend that much, that too for MTNL's service. In that case, he will need to waste out a bomb, which makes no sense.
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If you want unlimited 3G(ie. >10GB / 30 days), go for MTNL/BSNL. Otherwise, Airtel is the cheapest you can get at the moment as a generalization. Of course, if you strictly limit yourself to less than 500 mb usage then you may find solace with Aircel at Rs.150 for 500 MB. However, for mid range users or for a huge crowd out there, nothing beats Airtel's cost at the moment, not even US service providers, which are very very far off in even competing other Indian brands.
USA Wired internet = VERY ADVANCED compared to India
However, their 3G isn't as cheap as that in India. They may or may be some what faster, but our service providers aren't lagging behind either.
Also, from what I have noticed 2 Mbps is faster on Windows than on a mobile device, may be due to software/hardware/browser limitations. And beyond 1 Mbps or so, it doesn't make that much of a difference on a mobile phone unless you are watching streaming content or downloading.
So please stop shouting at Airtel when they are already doing the maximum that India has at the moment, give or take a few things
To all those who think Airtel 3g doesn't rock
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