Sri lanka Telecom (The incumbent fixed line operator in Srilanka), in its latest drive to boost subscriber base, has re-branded SLT ADSL as SLT Broadband and launched a new budget ADSL package to capture new market segments. Is the new package as beneficial as it sounds?
New ADSL packge Features and conditions
- Monthly rental Rs.1000/=
- Usage Allowance 1GB and additional usage will be charged Rs.250/= for each 250MB blocks
- Connection fee Rs.500/=
- Download 512Kbps and upload 128Kbps
- Available in all current ADSL areas
Usage allowance term simply means that you will be charged extra if your usage (Web surfing, e-mail checking, downloading, TV/radio streaming or basically anything which you do using SLT ADSL connection) exceeds 1GB.
In our opinion, the package is not worth it. What can you do with a 1GB limit on your ass? 1GB might have been a huge amount some years back but this is the information age for fucks sake! Even a simple login to Windows Live Mail is bound to consume more than 2MB per try. Your 1GB limit will exceed before you know it and you might even end up paying a rental higher than for ADSL Home Express (You download 2.25GB --> You pay Rs 2250 which is the same amount as the monthly rental for Home Express package)
Don't even think about downloading torrents or software using this connection as you will end up with a huge monthly bill due to additional usage charge.
The Internet evolves, file sizes increase, traffic consumption goes up, web services are born, everything is downloadable, SLT puts a 1GB limit to its budget 'broadband' connection. It just doesn't make sense.
Conclusion:
Stay away from the Rs 1000 package. It's basically a faster dial up connection. If you are planning to upgrade to ADSL go for the Home Express package (512K Up/ 128K Down, Rs 2250 per month, unlimited usage) and experience Internet without restrictions or fear of exceeded bandwidth limitations.
