I was able to try out three broadband Internet Service Providers this year alone. Two of them I tried out just last month. Anyways, here’s my take on the above mentioned internet service providers.
PRICE
PLDT. The first plan I have subscribed to at PLDT DSL was their plan 999. Back then, speed for this plan is at 384Kbps. This has now increased to 1 Mbps. I don’t know whether they still have a lower plan as the lowest one advertised on their website is 1 Mbps.
Bayantel. Bayantel’s lowest subscription plan is 899. The subscribed speed is 768 Kbps but it is “burstable” up to 1 Mpbs when surfing at off-peak hours, between 10 pm and 6 am.
Destiny. The lowest subscription for Destiny Cable Internet is also 999. However, if you ask their customer service representative, speed is from 256 kpbs – 1 Mbps and I quote, “depending on your area”.
In terms of pricing and cheapest subscription plan, Bayantel beats the other two by P100.
SPEED
PLDT. Like I said, PLDT’s advertised speed is 1 Mbps. There are times when I actually feel like their speed is 1 Mbps but most of the times, it’s actually just 384-768 kpbs. The week before I completely lost connection, it was around 76 kbps. I’m not kidding you. I use www.testmy.net and CNET’s broadband speed test and both of them says my connection is 28-76kbps. Before PLDT increased the speed of their 999 subscribers, I even rarely get to have a 384 kbps speed. There was a time that for a whole month, I barely reach 50% of my subscribed speed.
Bayantel. I was only able to test Bayantel’s service for two weeks. There was a problem with my connection and when I called their hotline their “technical team” said that there was a legal issue with the facilities where my line is connected so they can’t give a definite time as to when they can fix it. I was able to make use of Bayantel’s money-back guarantee so I never paid them anything. For the time that I’ve used Bayantel, my speed did reach 1 Mbps during off peak hours and 768 during regular hours. Compared with PLDT DSL, I was rarely disconnected nor did I experience “intermittent” connection.
Destiny. I’ve only been using Destiny Cable Internet for a week. So far, the speed I’m getting during regular hours is 256 kbps. However, speed varies when downloading or browsing. I feel like my browsing speed is much faster than my downloading speed. 256 kbps is nothing compared with Bayantel, but then again, it’s better than 76 kbps or no internet at all.
Bayantel gets my vote for speed. 768 kbps compared with 1 Mbps seems like a no-brainer, but then again, PLDT’s connection is so unreliable that I’m thinking of suing them for false advertisement.
SERVICE
PLDT. When you call PLDT’s helpline, someone for sure will answer you on the fourth to sixth ring. You don’t wait for more than 30 minutes redialing or waiting for someone to answer. However, when someone does answer you and your problem isn’t resolved with the usual, “turn off your modem, reset your pc, etc” troubleshooting, they will say that they will forward your concern with their “technical department” and then someone would contact you. You wait for 24 hours but no technical team contacts you. You follow up your concern and then CSR will just apologize and say something that your request is still in the works. one week after, their technical person shows up on your front door.
Honestly, the reason I left PLDT is their service. I hate the fact that you have to talk to a CSR instead of a person with the actual technical knowledge of their system, plus the fact that their system is so full of subscribers that they probably can’t attend to the needs of each and everyone. Hands down, PLDT’s service is the crappiest service EVER. Whether it be with their sister company like Smart or Smart Bro, it’s all the same: sucks, sucks, sucks! I am SO glad that I wasn’t swayed when one of their marketing people called up our house and offered us 1 month free service in exchange that we are locked in again for another year.
Bayantel. When you call up Bayantel’s helpline, you have to wait for someone to pick up. You’re one lucky person if you are able to get hold of a CSR during your first call. Most of the times, you have to redial the number ten to twenty times before someone picks up. However, the good news is, you’re directed to their “technical team”. Their troubleshooting doesn’t only involve resetting your modem and the one answering actually has access to their network. If you’re experiencing no connection, they would troubleshoot it right away on their system to see whether the problem is on their part or on your part.
Another good thing about Bayantel is their money-back guarantee and their rebate. With their money-back guarantee, if you are not satisfied with their service, within 15 days after your first down payment, you can ask for a refund. Of course, the reason should not be whimsical, you should have an actual problem that they can’t solve. on my part, it was a legal issue and they have admitted that they cannot give me a time frame on when my connection would be fixed so I was able to get my money back. With their rebate program, if you have a problem with your connection that they can’t solve within 24 hours, you will get a 500 peso rebate. If you are subscribed to plan 899, their lowest plan, you have to give them two days to resolve your problem, otherwise, you will get a rebate for your whole month’s subscription.
Destiny. With Destiny cable, if you are able to get a hold of their CSR within your first call, then rejoice because you are the luckiest person on Earth. There was only one time that I was able to get through their number, 841-93-93 and that was the time when I was just going to ask about their rates. Fortunately, I was able to get hold of the number for their branch office near my area. That number was not busy and they were able to send over their technical team within the day. Now THAT’s fast service. However, I’m only a subscriber for a few days so I’m still reserving my judgment and will be updating this post from time to time.
In terms of service, again, Bayantel gets my vote. However, if I’m able to reach the Destiny Branch whenever I have connection problems and if they are able to send in their technical team within the day, then I’ll update my post and give my vote to Destiny.
Conclusion
I really have high hopes for Bayantel. I wish that they are able to resolve whatever legal issues they have so that when my lock-in period expires with Destiny Cable (BTW, lock-in period for Destiny is only ten months), I would be able to subscribe with them again. From what I see, if Bayantel’s rebate program is regular, then you really can’t lose. You won’t have to pay for anything if you don’t have internet connection for more than two days, granted of course that you’re able to reach their CSR in the first place in order to report your problem.
I’m still in the middle with Destiny as I can’t really make fast judgment in only five days or so, but so far so good. I know I’ve heard people complain about Bayantel, especially in Bayantel’s forums but I bet if they tried PLDT’s service they would think differently.
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