For a year or more, I have been on Vodafone Idea’s Rs 399 plan. This recharge offers unlimited 4G+5G internet along with unlimited calls. I also have an Airtel SIM. And I often observed that the Airtel 4G network is far better than Vi. So, when I came across a news report about Airtel’s new Rs 399 plan, I immediately recharged my number with it. Yet, I ended up facing disappointment. Why? Well, the internet speed (both upload and download) has drastically reduced since switching to this unlimited plan.
(Note: For selected numbers, Airtel is offering this plan for Rs 349 instead of Rs 399.)
The internet speed for my number drastically reduces during peak hours. I changed my handset to ensure the issue was not at my end. Yet, the speed often remains below 1 Mbps between 7 PM and 11 PM every evening. My brother is on Airtel’s Rs 299 plan, and he does not experience buffering while streaming videos. His SIM continues to get good speed during peak hours.
I contacted customer service and requested that they look into this as my overall usage always remains below 4GB per day. The representative said there is nothing they can do to improve the speed, and that they might improve the network during the next planned upgrade.
I have a doubt. I think Airtel (of course, without openly declaring it) is using network slicing. Simply put, the option allows them to provide different speed to everyone. Of course, network slicing is banned in India due to net neutrality rules. But, I believe Airtel has a way around this.
It’s better not to go for these unlimited plans on Airtel. If you have a Vi SIM, go for their Rs 399 plan, which offers unlimited 4G. They do not downgrade speeds during peak hours.
