(Plans updated: 20-May-12)
[Update 20-May-2012: We are removing Aircel plans due to the lack of clarity in their schemes]
With Idea also starting their 3G services in Kerala, all the four licensed 3G operators (BSNL, Tata Docomo, Aircel and Idea) are now 3G enabled. So which one should you choose? Read on…
You can choose either the data-only plan or the combo plan, which combines data and voice. The former is just an add-on to an existing voice plan, and hence offers significant flexibility in 3G. The latter offers less flexibility, but is much more convenient to manage. One aspect of the 3G plans is that there is no significant difference between the pre-paid and post-paid plans.
Following is the comparison of data plans:
| 3G Plans – Kerala | |||||||
| BSNL | Tata DoCoMo | Idea | Airtel | ||||
| MRP | Data (MB) | MRP | Data (MB) | MRP | Data (MB) | MRP | Data (MB) |
| 100 | 225 | 91 | 240 | 107 | 300 | 104 | 300 |
| 200 | 500 | 201 | 250 | 199 | 600 | 250 | 1000 |
| 300 | 1000 | 351 | 500 | 348 | 1500 | 450 | 2000 |
| 601 | 1000 | 450 | 2000 | 675 | 3100 | ||
| 500 | 2000 | 751 | 2000 | 750 | 4000 | 751 | 4000 |
| 750 | 5000 | 1499 | 10000 | 1500 | 10000 | ||
*All plans have a validity of 1 month
*Extra data charge will be Rs.4/MB for BSNL, Rs.10/MB for Tata, Rs.2/MB for Idea and Rs.3/MB for Airtel
Following is the comparison of the combo plans:
| 3G Combo Plans – Kerala | |||||
| BSNL | Tata DoCoMo | ||||
| MRP | Free Calls (Mins) | Free Data (MB) | MRP | Free Calls (Mins) | Free Data (MB) |
| 331 | 300 | 300 | 246 | 250 | 720 |
| 551 | 1000 | 500 | 500 | 1000 | 500 |
| 750 | 1500 | 750 | |||
| 1103 | 2000 | 1024 | 1000 | 2000 | 1250 |
| 2206 | 5000 | 3072 | 2000 | 5000 | 2000 |
*Free Calls in BSNL includes Local+STD, Tata Docomo includes Local+STD+Roaming.
*BSNL plans as on 15-Nov-11
*BSNL include free SMS (roughly half the free mins for BSNL). Tata DoCoMo allows 3000 SMS free.
*All plans have a validity of one month
*Extra data charge will be Rs.10/MB for Tata and Rs.2/MB for BSNL
Idea does not offer any combo plans currently. BSNL and Tata have matching offers, while Aircel appears significantly expensive (guess they have to pay for Dhoni). Tata has an extra interesting plan of Rs.200 wherein you get Rs.200 worth talktime (1ps/sec for local, 2ps/sec for STD) and 50ps/MB of 3G, which we believe is value-for-money.
USB Dongle?
3G services are also available in USB dongle, which enables one to connect computers/laptops to the internet. If you plan to choose a 3G USB dongle, choose an unlimited plan. Unlimited plans are available from different operators in the range Rs.1000-Rs.1200. Note that though these are marketed as unlimited and you will not incur any charges, 3G speeds might be available only upto 3GB-5GB, after which speed might be limited to GPRS speeds.
If you have any experience to share regarding 3G services in Kerala, do comment below.
[Update 27-Apr-2011: There is an interesting site - www.3gsimplified.com - which does a decent job in comparing your needs. The service is in beta now and compares only existing 3G services, but they have promised to bring in 2G plans also under its ambit]
3gsimplified.com recently extended their Mobile plan comparison to datacard plan comparison as well. What more? After you find the best datacard plan, it suggests datacards that applicable for each plan in your result.
Thanks for the summarised info on 3G plans and link.
Thank you so much for posting the valuable information. You should think of comparing the speed and reliability of these services.
you should include plan validity also along with each of these services.
what about 3g dongle reliance providing modem @ 999/ and also modem free for advanced 3 month rental plan(750*3!=2350; just for 2,100) .. just dial 9020902088
Tata Docomo is notorious for their bills. Post completion of free data usage , it is 10/MB so for example ,if you use 400 MB extra , then your bill will come up to Rs 4000! Stay away from Tata DoCoMo. Their 3G download speeds are lesser than Idea or Airtel or BSNL with max up to 3.2 Mbps . As for upload speed , you will get only 0.26 Mbps!!!
All other providers have Upload speeds in excess of 1 Mbps , which is only decent to stay the least. It is for this service that Tata charge Rs 10/MB . Stay clear of Tata Docomo in Kerala.
Thanks for this info.plans are displayed in efficient way.quickly understandable.thank u so much .keep updating
Idea operator provide good 3g service in kerala( specialy in calicut).although price is too
airtel does not have 3g in kerela…budZZZ