i've never really experienced internet connections in the west. i'm living in mayapur, and as far as internet goes, it's next to the end of the world. at home i'm having two connecitons: dialup-modem at 3-4 kB/s, and via a mobile phone, 4-5 kB/s. mostly one of the two works ...

at the ISKCON temple they've got so-called broadband now, which isn't that broad, unfortunately. most offices in the long building are connected, at 8-12 kB/s - hardly enough for sype voice chat. there's an internet-place run by ex-gurukulis, though. they receive their supply from the same broadband connection, but, paying something more than the offices, they get 20-40 kB/s (i've heard, not seen yet). depending on how many users are online, that's pretty fast for mayapur conditions.

in larger towns and cities it's better, though. even in kolkata you can get real broadband in internet shops, and if you have a mobile phone with GPRS & edge protocol, you can get up to 20 kB/s, i've heard.

it gets really good i'm told once you leave west bengal, going to bombay or bangalore, with real fast internet everywhere. but i don't know any details about that.

reliance used to be better than it's rivals, but recently their performance diminished. most people using it are complaining that it's hardly ever available, and if, then slower than the other providers. all these mobile phone (or USB modem card) connections depend a lot on how close you are to the next tower, of course.

ys phani.

as i wrote in my prevous message, reliance doesn't seem very good or reliable at present. i haven't used them in years, but others who do are complaining.

best connection would be BSNL mobile (edge protocol with up to 20+kB/s available even in mayapur), but you get intenet only with postpaid connections - which aren't easily available for foreigners. if you can get a local to register one for you, that might be an option.

if you don't require your own connection at all times of day & night, you could go to the internet place run by ex-gurukulis. they charge rs. 30 / h and have the fastest connection in town.

ys phain.

perhaps looking through travellers' web sites will help. my knowledge is limited to what's available locally in mayapur. if i find something else i'll let you know ...

ys phani.