Seeking to get edge over private telecom operators, the public sector telecommunication company of India – BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) has come up with new service plans for the customers of its CDMA platform-based data services.

Under the new offers, using BSNL NIC Cards or BSNL EVDO Cards, the subscribers can get wireless internet surfing speeds of up to 144 Kbps, and up to 2.4 Mbps respectively. What is more, BSNL is providing roaming facility on these cards.  

Standing for “Evolution Data Only" or "Evolution Data Optimized," EVDO – the standard for high speed wireless broadband – is also known as EV-DO, 1xEvDO and 1xEV-DO. The Telecommunication Industry Association officially defines the standard as "CDMA2000, High Rate Packet Data Air Interface". One of two major Third Generation, or 3G, wireless standards, EVDO is vying with W-CDMA.  
BSNL EVDO Data Card is capable of providing wireless internet speed up to 2.4 mbps, which is said to be faster than any mobile wireless service. BSNL EVDO Data Card can be used in laptops or in desktop PCs. BSNL EVDO Data Card is priced at Rs.2,100.

NIC stands for “Network Interface Card”. The two new NIC based plans – one for speeds of 144 Kbps will be available for a monthly charge of Rs 250, and the second EVDO based plan for speed of up to 2.4 Mbps will be available for a monthly charge of Rs 650.

Currently, BSNL is offering unlimited data access to both NIC and EVDO card users for a fixed monthly rental of Rs. 250 and Rs 550 respectively, but the new tariffs will be effective from 1 July, 2009.
As promotional offer, BSNL is offering discount on the NIC and EVDO cards, which are usually priced at Rs. 2,500 and Rs 3,500 respectively. BSNL has announced that it will sell a NIC at Rs.1,680, and an EVDO card for Rs. 2,100 till Sept 30, 2009. BSNL is the first telecom operator to introduce EVDO Internet in India.