Hathway recently introduced a 256kbps cable broadband plan for Rs.750 per month with a download limit of 500MB. I think this is by far the best deal in the 256kbps category. Of course, I was grumbling at my existing 128kbps connection from Hathway and immediately upgraded to this plan. Affordable speed increases are welcome any time. Ahh, still a far cry from the 1.5Mbps cable connection I had back in Sunnyvale, CA!

While I was hunting for broadband options when I moved to Bangalore, I investigated various DSL and cable options. I contacted Bharti TouchTel, DishNet, Tata Indicom (they were advertising a wireless internet connection) and BSNL (their DSL equivalent is called DIAS). Some did not have service in my area, some wouldn’t commit on what speed they will provide, and some would not even respond to my calls.

My local cable TV operator also had a cable internet package which was a pathetic 64kbps-shared-bandwidth plan. Friends who had similar plans told me that typical speeds turned out to be 10-20kbps! The operator also gave me the impression that he was the ONLY cable internet provider in my area, and wouldn’t tell me who THEIR provider was. I initially believed him knowing that the last mile cable is more or less a monopoly in India.

Dreading the thought of the only option left - dialup - I desperately gave Hathway a shot expecting them to ask me to go through the local cable operator. Surprise, surprise, my email query was answered in less than a few hours, an appointment fixed the same day for their sales agent to come to my residence and pick up the application form, and 4 days later I had a 128kbps always-on connection. I now get TV from my local cable operator and internet from the separate cable that Hathway has laid to my house.

Although there has been some downtime, I'm overall pretty happy with the service provided by Hathway. At least they promptly respond to customer service calls.