The huge Millennium Towers complex in Sanpada, Navi Mumbai is one of the prime properties where I have my home in Mumbai. There are some 7-8 towers - I don’t know - which are all fully occupied by owners and tenants. But if you are clearly in the wired and connected new millennium, or a techie youngster, you are really out of luck if you live here. Thankfully, I don’t.
I have friends who own houses there. I have friends who live there for the last few years. On paper, thigns are brilliant at the Millennium Towers - you have an internet socket in your wall - what more do most of us who live online need?
Apparently a lot more. A reliable internet service through that hole in the wall, for instance. In these last few years, there has never been a day when you could say with confidence that you would check your mails from home. To make matters worse, the operators of the network who live right there seem to be local idiots at best, local hooligans at worst.
So the internet connection in your Millennnium Towers flat is cut off whenever there is a powercut. I live in New Delhi, I have two internet connections - one from Hathaway, the other from Airtel. Both work perfectly, power cut or not.
Millennium Towers has its internet service operated by a little known company called Exatt. Call them, and nobody picks up the phone. When the due date for monthly payments pass, your connection prompty gets cut - but you never receive a phone call or email, or a visit from the operators who work just two blocks away.
Even when it is working, the connection is pathetic. Forget ever watching a Youtube video - the connection keeps dropping even when it is working somewhat.
The problem arises from a monopoly issue. It seems that Exatt has got into some kind of agreement with the Millennium Towers for exclusive internet service in Millennium. So, even though Sanpada has two other internet providers (plus MTNL) that I know of, they have no access to the large number of people living in Millennium Towers.
So there. If you want to live in Millennium Towers but care about being connected, run the other way. Even before you rent or buy a place, confirm if the society allows multiple internet service providers to offer connections in the same building. Choice is the only solution.
May 16th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Good story. I’m a resident of Millennium Towers and having a very very bad time because of the monopoly of Exatt. And because of this monopoly, ISPs like Airtel or Hathaway wont even come near this area. In these days, when there is a three hour power cut, the Exatt net is a royal mess.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Great Story!
I’m too a resident of Millennium Toers and I have a job which requires travelling. I have used literally all the ISP’s service and trust me this is the situation throughout. Its good that there is only Exatt whose service is above average. The customer enjoys credit i.e even though the plan gets expired they can renew through phone. That is the case with other. They will simply disconnect the service and activation happens only after payment. I get reminder calls from Exatt for renewals. It could be an isolated case of yours not getting the service. Could be because you did not update your number with service provider.
August 3rd, 2008 at 3:57 am
Now, now, it’s not all that bad. And what do you expect for unlimited access to the net for Rs. 500 a month, which is less than half of what others are paying for their internet connection. I’m also a resident of Millennium Towers and using Exatt connection. Now there is no monopoly of Exatt, there are many using Tata Sky too.
We have given them instructions to collect the payment for the next month one or two days before the month’s date expires, so that it renews before expiry.
For information sake, the Exatt (Busybee) contact nos. for Millennium Towers, Sanpada are 66733026, 66733027. Call after 10.30 am.
I agree to the video part - the connection is slow, but try paying them Rs.2000 or so a month(the higher amount package), and see your net speed.
It’s all about money, honey!
August 16th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Hi All,
Till the time we guys do not participate actively in the issues pertaining to Millennium Tower Complex we would be forced to avail services decided by just the committee members. When CIDCO was maintaining the premises, the contract was awarded to BusyBee to provide the internet services. As CIDCO is no where in the picture it is the responsibility of Committee members in each society to look for alternative to Exatt, there could be some reason for all the societies here to favor Exatt and continue with their services, inspite of long disconnections and abruption in providing services.
Guys, what about the clubhouse? I am surprised how 9 committee members in each society can decide the fate of the rest residents. They are just 9, what are others doing, why cant we stand and make them do what favors all.
JAI HIND