I recently switched to Excitel, after using Airtel DSL connection for past few years.
While Airtel’s uptime, speed and support have been great. Low FUP limits and high cost made me look for alternatives. Especially since I exhausted 100GB of my 120GB FUP limit in 7 days, after binge watching Amazon Prime.
Excitel offers unlimited download and has a no-FUP policy, which is exactly what I wanted.
My initial attempt to reach out to Excitel using their online contact-us form had been unsuccessful. So this time around, I decided to call their local rep. who had stuck a flyer of theirs on an electricity pole.
Thanks to my research, I had already found out that Excitel is a local internet service provider, who depends on local cable operators for last mile connectivity and support.
Since internet connection is delivered in the form of a LAN cable, you need your own Wi-Fi router. I bought a TP-LINK TL-WR841N router from Amazon. It is a cheap and easy to configure Wi-Fi router, which can be secured easily and you can install third-party firmware like OpenWRT.
Cost
Major benefit of going with a local player like Excitel is the cost. With Airtel, I was paying Rs. 2,298 (including taxes) a month for a 16mbps connection with 120GB FUP limit. After I used to cross FUP limit, speed would reduce to 0.5mbps for rest of the month.
With Excitel, I am paying Rs. 799 (including taxes) a month for 20mbps connection with no FUP or download limit! However, in case of Excitel, a month = 28 days.
Installation
I was informed by Excitel’s local sales rep, that installation would commence in couple of hours of contacting him. Sure enough, couple of guys from LCO showed up for installation, couple of hours later.
Installation of cable was done in a typical LCO fashion.
I had to literally force the LCO employees to route the cable correctly, and not behind the outdoor unit of my split-AC!
No cable management whatsoever inside the house either, so that is something I will have to do on my own.
In comparison, Airtel had done a wonderful job not only inside the house, but also outside.
Connectivity
Installation done, it was time to test out the connection, before retiring my Airtel ADSL router to the confines of the cupboard. Thankfully in this regards, Excitel didn’t disappoint, at least at that point.
It’s been 15 days since I started using Excitel connection, and I have used it and tested it with pretty much everything. And I have to say, results are mixed.
Let’s start first with a typical Speedtest.net test, using Excitel’s own speedtest server. As you can see, I got almost the exact speed my plan offers.
Next up, I ran a test against Reliance Communication’s Chennai test server.
Then I tested it with a test server based in London.
And then with a server in New York.
After this I tested my connection speed using Fast.com, which is a speed test hosted and run by Netflix.
As it is apparent from the tests, as long as you’re accessing content from servers located in India or even UK, connectivity is blazing fast. However, with America, connection speed reduces drastically.
However, this is the case with pretty much all internet connections, be it in India or across the world. Though, bigger providers like Airtel manage to provide more consistent results. Especially in case of Fast.com test. In which my Airtel connection had topped out at 16mbps!
Biggest surprise for me came in the form of Torrent speed test. Which I had to test multiple times to ensure I wasn’t getting incorrect result.
Because on my 20mbps connection, I was getting over 40mbps speed while downloading torrents!
I can easily download a 1 GB file in 4 minutes, as long as I am using a torrent! This is great for those people, who use torrents regularly.
Streaming
What matters to me is the streaming speed and quality, since I use YouTube, Amazon Prime, Hot Star and Ditto TV on a regular basis.
With YouTube, there is no speed issue at all! It is blazing fast, and even while uploading a file to YouTube, I can max out my connection speed.
Amazon Prime on the other hand is a mixed bag. In a bid to provide buffer free viewing, it rapidly changes resolution. So usually I end up watching videos in 720p or lower resolution, rather than in 1080p. Hopefully this will change, if and when Excitel starts peering with Amazon.
Hot Star plays ultra-smooth, and so does Ditto TV. Only occasionally video starts buffering, otherwise playback is instantaneous.
Gaming
The only online game I play is Age of Empires Castle Siege and it works flawlessly. So I cannot comment on its gaming performance. However, from what I have read online, Airtel is a better bet if online gaming is a priority for you.
Downtime
In the last 15 days, I have faced major downtime only once. When electricity outage for 4 hours occurred in our area and after about 2.5 hours, Excitel connection stopped working. Even though I complained to their call center, and they forwarded the complaint locally. Connectivity was restored only when the power came back.
Leading me to believe that they have limited power backup at LCO. And he needs to keep the equipment at his premises up, in order for internet connection to work.
Apart from this, at least once a day, I lose internet connectivity for a few minutes. It almost seems like their DHCP server releases the IP and then takes sweet time renewing it.
Customer care
This is one area where they need to improve ASAP!
Initially I changed password of my client panel, and when I tried to login using the password, I got an error stating special corrector wasn’t allowed in password. I had used a # and – in the password. I tried to reset it online, but I never got the password on my mobile phone. I asked the customer care to do the same and once again, I didn’t receive it on my mobile phone.
When the sales rep came to pick-up the documents for connection, I told him about this issue. And he managed to get the password changed.
Also when I had used their contact-us form on their website couple of months ago, there was no response from them. Their Twitter account is inactive as well. Only their FB page seems active and it seems the best way to contact them is over the phone.
Conclusion
In the end, Excitel is a great option for those who don’t wish to pay through their nose for fast internet access speed and a lot of data usage. In fact in the last 15 days, I have used more than 150GB!
Being a local player (they are only available in Delhi and few parts of Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad), they have limited resources and are dependent on local cable operators for last mile operations. This means, user experience can change a lot, depending on where you are located. However, this should only matter in case of any local connectivity issue or during the initial installation.
So far, I am enjoying my time with Excitel. And despite a handful of issues, they seem alright. And I hope, they will improve in the days to come.
6 month update: Click here to read my updated review of Excitel’s 50mbps broadband connection.
19 Comments
Yogesh, is it correct?
Online payment option is not available, although the monthly recharge amount will be collected from doorstep like we pay for Newspaper.
Long Down Time – I saw you already mentioned it. But, it is very frequent. Not an option for WFH guys. Your employer* is not going to accept these long gap in connectivity. (*not a case with all)
Cost – There is no comparison. But there is not any responsible body behind this concept. Your approach, complaint and then escalation is to single point, that is – local cable operation. If he/she is not responsive you are helpless.
As far as I know, they have launched online payment option in December.
As far as downtime is concerned, it is dependent on your area. If there are frequent cable cuts or long power outages, there will be frequent downtimes. Otherwise, their connectivity seems good. I have a 4G and a 3G connection to keep me online in case connectivity goes down.
For local faults, yes, you’re dependent on local cable operator. Otherwise the central call center is responsible, and they seem responsive and easy to connect to.
Never thought this kind of review will be available on internet about Excitel!
Thanks a lot a nice review as you were totally unbiased.
Thank you Neil. Btw I used around 400GB of data in the first month of service. So it is good so far.
did you pay the cable installation charges of RS.500 since the router was provided by you?
My area representative is offering me 0 installation charge only if I pay for 3 months upfront.
what are your thoughts about it?
Installation cost is there, irrespective of whether you buy a router from them or not. Router’s cost is additional. I prefer paying month to month, so that if the quality drops significantly, I can change whenever I want, without losing a lot of money.
Is it connectivity issue , consistent through the every month ?
is it worthy to ditch MTNL for Excitel ?
(My current MTNL unlimited plan is 1.2K/month)
I am facing disconnection issue on a daily basis, every day in evening the connection goes down for 3-4 hours. If you pursue the complaint with session logs, they resolve it for a couple of days and then it is the same issue all over again. Since I have an Airtel DSL connection for backup, I don’t face a major issue. However, it is annoying nonetheless and shows they don’t really care about service quality.
this response more or less sums it all up,,, Thankx
MOST WORST experience to choose Service excitel Broad Band in Hyderabad in KPHB
I requested for new internet connection on 20-may-2017 & amount payed 500/- on same day to excitel sale person Mr. B.Ramesh(9014139855//9703706478)(S.ID:1423819),
As per him, I’ll get new connection in couple of days, but till now I didn’t get connection(passed 10 days)
even connection is not given hot experience like this, if ill got connection also any net issue these people will not respond
I dont have interest continue with excitel, kindly refund my amount
Hi Yogesh,
They have changed their plans recently in Hyderabad. I am currently using ACT 75Mbps plan. I want to know how good speeds are and if reliable with Excitel, They are offering plan: 100 Mbps – 795 Rs.
Do let me know if it is worth to switch.
I never had issues with ACT, but comparing the price and speeds, I am thinking of Switching.
Sai, I have an updated review with 50Mbps plan here https://www.yogeshsarkar.com/blog/2017/05/31/excitel-50mbps-broadband-review/. Currently I am using their 100Mbps plan and I should have a review up in a few days.
Hey Yogesh
Do you know how to configure D link modem DIR 615 for Excitel..? I tried a lot but it does not seem to work.
For new connection, excitel sales executive took money and told us to they will connect with in 1 day. After 3 day when we called he did not receive my call and add it to the block list. It’s already 1 week left till now we didn’t get any connection or even a phone call. All the executive from excitel are their. Don’t give any money to them. That executive who cheated me his name is Rama Krishna pH 8309088660
I have paid money for instalation ….and extra money for the router also..but there is no response from the executive instead he blocked me even…and the customer service is dam fuckin………..is this the way am gonna approach the police station right now ….
Its waste of money and my time ….
Very bad
Hi every o e, I am a regular customer of excitel hyderabad in mehdipatnam area, I am using excitel since april 2017 and very happy with the speed and no fup, as I am a web developer I really found excitel as a solution for me. But they need to improve their support. Thak you
I have tried each one , eg. Den, Siticable, and now stuck with Excitel for considerable time. None is better than the other. They are first among worst. Going to change Excitel with another ISP by month end.
Excitel Broadband doesn’t provide high speed once you pay them for the prepaid connection. You will regret taking the connection.
I live in Delhi and I regret wasting my money on Excitel.
I paid for 3 months plan in advance. I am getting 8–9 Mbps speed on a 50 Mbps plan for more than 3 weeks. Also, frequent disconnection problem is there.
The problem is not resolved. Nobody listens to the complaint – LCO, customer care, Nodal and Appellate officer.
I call them daily and daily some new executive gives me a deadline of 48 hours. It’s so frustrating.
Please rely on your Hotspot connections, Excitel Broadband is pathetic. I have opened several tickets and the team closes the tickets as resolved without any resolution. The seller will assure you of the best services and no technical issue being optical fibre connection however it is really difficult to find a continuous broadband connectivity.
After being smitten for 3 months from the pathetic services I researched on several websites and found that the customer service and after sales support is scathing and all customers have the worst experience with Excitel.
Their Mobile App for complaints, their customer service. their escalation paths are all farce and can’t operate professionally. Adding a snapshot of how long tickets are dealt and the pendency of tickets does not matter to the management.