I voted for Other (Reliance).
Plan = 4Mbps speed with free data upload/download upto 7.5GB
using it since May 08.
On the main 3 factors, as mentioned by Columbus:
1. Speed - 4Mbps is not a joke. Because of frequent uploading/downloading of files, I come to know the speed of transfer. It's indeed very fast. Youtube, MP3, etc during weekends/freetime is a breeze... <touchwood>
check your broadband speed here
2. Connectivity - Never heard of "downtime" after shifting to Reliance. Infact, with the modem provided (which has two outputs), I've connected another PC for my younger bro's PC - works fine
3. Customer service - any problem due to local infrastructure issues, etc is attended to the very next working day.
4. Costs - Installation charges = Rs 500/-
With this 500/-, u also get Modem/splitter (one input, two outputs)
PLUS
a landline phone (provided u choose a combo plan for telephone calls
Rs 50/- per month, with local calls worth Rs 50/- free - so, ur rent is effectively zero)
quite less as compared to 1000/- or 1500/- being charged unreasonably by local cable wallahs only for cable wiring (modem charged extra)
My Plan charges per month = Rs 1500 (for broadband/internet) + Rs 50 (for telephone) + STax
Various other prepaid/postpaid Tariffs
This is peanuts in comparison to what local cable wallahs offer, with shared speed & only pre-paid option.
The area where I stay has no AIRTEL or HATHWAY
Sify is as good as any local cable wallah (they sub-let their infrastructure to them)
TataIndicom (previously, VSNL) is good & cheap but only for cyber cafes. Still has the old, stubborn heritage of VSNL days
YOU telecom needs all the residents of my building to become its subscribers...
it's MTNL (not BSNL) in Bombay.... I have heard that quality is good, but there's a fortnight-to-a-month waiting period for new connection, unless some palms are greased. Just imagine, if u give a complaint, how long will it take to be attended by these "babus", who believe that they should only get Diwali bakshish & pay-increments, but customer service is simply washed away & "a petty thing" for them.
They are very strict & particular about some data download rules (need to restart modem every night at a fixed time, etc).
Local cable-wallahs offer the BEST customer service - within an hour, sometimes. Wish, the same could be said about their connection's speed & reliability