Beware : ACT Broadband blocks FTP access

Ramadhir Singh

Wasseypur
Adept
I was banging my head over the FTP connection to my servers.

But reality is different !
http://www.naavi.org/wp/act-broadband-blocks-ftp-access-clients/

"As a result of this change, for the users of ACT broadband service, “Secure FTP Access” has now become a “Value Added Service” for which a separate fee needs to be paid"

ACT Fiber net (Atria Convergence Technologies Pvt. Ltd.) has been an Internet Service Provider which was the first service provider (particularly in Bangalore) to offer internet access service through optical fiber network. In view of the high bandwidth provided by the technology and with no major competition, the Company expanded its business into several cities in India.

Now when Reliance Jio has started setting up its own optic fiber network which is already been introduced in some cities on an experimental basis, ACT appears to be responding to the threat strangely by degrading the existing service shutting out the competition with improved services.

It has modified its tariff plan to create a new revenue model for the company by stripping the existing service of some of the features.

The Company has implemented a new tariff plan without providing any notice to its customers which restricts its internet service to the basic level of “Browsing” and “E Mail”. It has de-linked some aspects of the “FTP access” which some experts say has been done by blocking some open ports used for FTP access. Any requirement of such service would now require a subscription to what the company calls as a “Static IP address” which may simply be a set of IP addresses in which full services are configured as against other customers.

As a result of this change, for the users of ACT broadband service, “Secure FTP Access” has now become a “Value Added Service” for which a separate fee needs to be paid.

While it is the prerogative of any company to price its products as per its own plans, there is a need to remember that a change in tariff plan needs to be notified to the customer. Unfortunately, customer service may not be the top of the agenda for the Company as it refuses to inform its customers and refuses to even raise a proper bill. It has unilaterally degraded the service hoping that most of the customers may not be able to understand why some if their services have stopped functioning.

It is interesting to note that a company which wants to lead in technology does not have the marketing acumen to take it to the next level where it will have to compete with the kinds of Reliance Jio.

Perhaps this gives a cue to Reliance Jio on how to enter the markets where ACT is now present by a service offering which would be able to face the competition with some ease. Reliance Jio in the recent days has demonstrated the marketing acumen that it possesses to penetrate a market which is already entrenched with established players and create a dent over night. ACT Fibernet would perhaps be an easy prey to the marketing giant called Jio.

I look forward to an interesting battle when Reliance Jio enters the Bangalore market with its optic fiber services.
 
Yep seems ftp is blocked. Isn't this against net neutrality rules?

In the image, the first connection is via airtel which works. While on ACT it gets blocked.
 

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going back to Airtel :\

Also for online gaming people, ACT pings suddenly became horrible where i was getting 17-20 in TF2/CS ( 6-7 weeks back) to Asian servers, now hovering around 105 ( current)
 
going back to Airtel :\

Also for online gaming people, ACT pings suddenly became horrible where i was getting 17-20 in TF2/CS ( 6-7 weeks back) to Asian servers, now hovering around 105 ( current)
Do let ACT know that not to be over smart and there are now a half a dozen ISP which can literally kick their ass.

Browsing experience on Jio is way better than ACT. Reason less even corporate sites are blocked leave alone piracy. Best thing was blocking Mouthshut and Firstpost.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
FTP working as usual here in BLR on ACT.
can you try to access
ftp.lip6.fr

and if public, provide me the server which you accessed ..

and report back the log ?

here is mine
Code:
12:37:44    Status:    Resolving address of ftp.lip6.fr
12:37:44    Status:    Connecting to 195.83.118.1:21...
12:37:45    Status:    Connection established, waiting for welcome message...
12:37:45    Response:    220-
12:37:45    Response:     
12:37:45    Response:            Ce service est assure par le Laboratoire d'Informatique de
12:37:45    Response:        l'universite Paris 6 (LIP6) et la Direction des Systemes d'Information
12:37:45    Response:        (DSI) de l'universite Pierre et Marie Curie.
12:37:45    Response:     
12:37:45    Response:            Questions/renseignements sur ce serveur : ftpmaint@lip6.fr.
12:37:45    Response:     
12:37:45    Response:            L'heure locale est Sat Jul  8 09:07:36 2017.
12:37:45    Response:            Tous les transferts sont enregistres pour permettre l'exploitation
12:37:45    Response:        statistique de l'utilisation du serveur.
12:37:45    Response:     
12:37:45    Response:        ----------
12:37:45    Response:            This service is provided by the ``Laboratoire d'Informatique de
12:37:45    Response:        l'universite Paris 6'' (LIP6) and the ``Direction des Systemes
12:37:45    Response:        d'Information'' (DSI) of the universite Pierre et Marie Curie.
12:37:45    Response:     
12:37:45    Response:            If you have requests about this server : ftpmaint@lip6.fr.
12:37:45    Response:     
12:37:45    Response:            The local time is Sat Jul  8 09:07:36 2017.
12:37:45    Response:            All transfers are logged with your host name and e-mail address
12:37:45    Response:        to allow us to make statistics on the server use.
12:37:45    Response:    220 ftp.lip6.fr FTP server (NetBSD-ftpd 20100320) ready.
12:37:45    Command:    AUTH TLS
12:38:05    Error:    Connection timed out after 20 seconds of inactivity
12:38:05    Error:    Could not connect to server
12:38:05    Status:    Waiting to retry...
12:38:20    Status:    Resolving address of ftp.lip6.fr
12:38:20    Status:    Connecting to 195.83.118.1:21...
12:38:20    Status:    Connection established, waiting for welcome message...
12:38:20    Response:    220-
12:38:21    Response:     
12:38:21    Response:            Ce service est assure par le Laboratoire d'Informatique de
12:38:21    Response:        l'universite Paris 6 (LIP6) et la Direction des Systemes d'Information
12:38:21    Response:        (DSI) de l'universite Pierre et Marie Curie.
12:38:21    Response:     
12:38:21    Response:            Questions/renseignements sur ce serveur : ftpmaint@lip6.fr.
12:38:21    Response:     
12:38:21    Response:            L'heure locale est Sat Jul  8 09:08:11 2017.
12:38:21    Response:            Tous les transferts sont enregistres pour permettre l'exploitation
12:38:21    Response:        statistique de l'utilisation du serveur.
12:38:21    Response:     
12:38:21    Response:        ----------
12:38:21    Response:            This service is provided by the ``Laboratoire d'Informatique de
12:38:21    Response:        l'universite Paris 6'' (LIP6) and the ``Direction des Systemes
12:38:21    Response:        d'Information'' (DSI) of the universite Pierre et Marie Curie.
12:38:21    Response:     
12:38:21    Response:            If you have requests about this server : ftpmaint@lip6.fr.
12:38:21    Response:     
12:38:21    Response:            The local time is Sat Jul  8 09:08:11 2017.
12:38:21    Response:            All transfers are logged with your host name and e-mail address
12:38:21    Response:        to allow us to make statistics on the server use.
12:38:21    Response:    220 ftp.lip6.fr FTP server (NetBSD-ftpd 20100320) ready.
12:38:21    Command:    AUTH TLS
12:38:41    Error:    Connection timed out after 20 seconds of inactivity
12:38:41    Error:    Could not connect to server
12:38:41    Status:    Waiting to retry...
12:38:56    Status:    Resolving address of ftp.lip6.fr
12:38:56    Status:    Connecting to 195.83.118.1:21...
12:38:56    Status:    Connection established, waiting for welcome message...
12:38:56    Response:    220-
12:38:56    Response:     
12:38:56    Response:            Ce service est assure par le Laboratoire d'Informatique de
12:38:56    Response:        l'universite Paris 6 (LIP6) et la Direction des Systemes d'Information
12:38:56    Response:        (DSI) de l'universite Pierre et Marie Curie.
12:38:56    Response:     
12:38:56    Response:            Questions/renseignements sur ce serveur : ftpmaint@lip6.fr.
12:38:56    Response:     
12:38:56    Response:            L'heure locale est Sat Jul  8 09:08:47 2017.
12:38:56    Response:            Tous les transferts sont enregistres pour permettre l'exploitation
12:38:56    Response:        statistique de l'utilisation du serveur.
12:38:56    Response:     
12:38:56    Response:        ----------
12:38:56    Response:            This service is provided by the ``Laboratoire d'Informatique de
12:38:56    Response:        l'universite Paris 6'' (LIP6) and the ``Direction des Systemes
12:38:56    Response:        d'Information'' (DSI) of the universite Pierre et Marie Curie.
12:38:56    Response:     
12:38:56    Response:            If you have requests about this server : ftpmaint@lip6.fr.
12:38:56    Response:     
12:38:56    Response:            The local time is Sat Jul  8 09:08:47 2017.
12:38:56    Response:            All transfers are logged with your host name and e-mail address
12:38:56    Response:        to allow us to make statistics on the server use.
12:38:56    Response:    220 ftp.lip6.fr FTP server (NetBSD-ftpd 20100320) ready.
12:38:56    Command:    AUTH TLS

lastly, Enjoy till it last, today or tomorrow your will be blocked . they blocked mine in middle of june and now asking money for unblocking port.[DOUBLEPOST=1500034169][/DOUBLEPOST]
Looks like they responded positively to the backlash :-D

? didn't get you[DOUBLEPOST=1500034306][/DOUBLEPOST]
Yea looks like it started working again!

give me the server details to check. please.
 
[DOUBLEPOST=1500034736][/DOUBLEPOST]
Yep seems ftp is blocked. Isn't this against net neutrality rules?

In the image, the first connection is via airtel which works. While on ACT it gets blocked.

Same here
Code:
17:45:01    Status:    Resolving address of ftp.idsoftware.com
17:45:02    Status:    Connecting to 198.20.216.14:21...
17:45:22    Error:    Connection timed out after 20 seconds of inactivity
17:45:22    Error:    Could not connect to server
17:45:22    Status:    Waiting to retry...
17:45:37    Status:    Resolving address of ftp.idsoftware.com
17:45:37    Status:    Connecting to 198.20.216.14:21...
17:45:57    Error:    Connection timed out after 20 seconds of inactivity
17:45:57    Error:    Could not connect to server
17:45:57    Status:    Waiting to retry...
17:46:12    Status:    Resolving address of ftp.idsoftware.com
17:46:12    Status:    Connecting to 198.20.216.14:21...
17:46:32    Error:    Connection timed out after 20 seconds of inactivity
17:46:32    Error:    Could not connect to server
17:46:32    Status:    Waiting to retry...
 
I meant to say, maybe ACT was worried about bad publicity from users complaining about FTP access being blocked or charged extra, so they reverted to the sane choice of allowing it.
 
I meant to say, maybe ACT was worried about bad publicity from users complaining about FTP access being blocked or charged extra, so they reverted to the sane choice of allowing it.
not yet. very rude person from customer care told me in face, pay for dedicated IP or switch to other ISP.
Double NAT and their old infrastructure. they should upgrade themselves get more IP range instead of blocking ports.

And see the irony, unsecured connection are opened but secured are blocked. they simplye want to promote privacy/torrents ( their majority of users) but block business connection and force user to pay money who work from home or play game online.


bad publicity doesn't matter to them. as 90% of their customer are unaffected.
 
Last edited:
true, they should focus on moving to IPv6 instead this NAT drama.

Noise won't happen, as i said 90% user are happy if their Gmail, Facebook, YouTube and other streaming sites are working.
the % of hardcore online gamer, developers, etc are less in India. who would need something more than http.

I wish GoogleFiber or JioFiber start their services soon across India. Our current ISP are dated in their thinking and infra, they need cut-throat competition just like what we have in mobile sector.
 
Last edited:
can you try to access
ftp.lip6.fr

and if public, provide me the server which you accessed ..

and report back the log ?

Code:
C:\>ftp ftp.lip6.fr
Connected to nephtys.lip6.fr.
220-

        Ce service est assure par le Laboratoire d'Informatique de
    l'universite Paris 6 (LIP6) et la Direction des Systemes d'Information
    (DSI) de l'universite Pierre et Marie Curie.

        Questions/renseignements sur ce serveur : [EMAIL]ftpmaint@lip6.fr[/EMAIL].

        L'heure locale est Sat Jul 15 07:30:40 2017.
        Tous les transferts sont enregistres pour permettre l'exploitation
    statistique de l'utilisation du serveur.

    ----------
        This service is provided by the ``Laboratoire d'Informatique de
    l'universite Paris 6'' (LIP6) and the ``Direction des Systemes
    d'Information'' (DSI) of the universite Pierre et Marie Curie.

        If you have requests about this server : [EMAIL]ftpmaint@lip6.fr[/EMAIL].

        The local time is Sat Jul 15 07:30:40 2017.
        All transfers are logged with your host name and e-mail address
    to allow us to make statistics on the server use.
220 ftp.lip6.fr FTP server (NetBSD-ftpd 20100320) ready.
User (nephtys.lip6.fr:(none)): anonymous
331 Guest login ok, type your name as password.
Password:
230-
        Vous etes dans la classe guest,
        Vous venez de broadband.actcorp.in,
        Il y a actuellement 9 autres connexions dans votre classe.

    ----------
        Your class is guest,
        You come from broadband.actcorp.in,
        There are currently 9 other connections in your class.

230 Guest login ok, access restrictions apply.
ftp> ls
200 PORT command successful.
150 Opening ASCII mode data connection for 'file list'.
pub
etc
ibp
jussieu
liafa
lip6
private
ls-lR.gz
226 Transfer complete.
ftp: 56 bytes received in 0.00Seconds 28.00Kbytes/sec.
ftp> bye
221-
    Data traffic for this session was 0 bytes in 0 files.
    Total traffic for this session was 1703 bytes in 1 transfer.
221 Thank you for using the FTP service on ftp.lip6.fr.

C:\>tracert ftp.lip6.fr

Tracing route to nephtys.lip6.fr [195.83.118.1]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1    <1 ms    <1 ms    <1 ms  192.168.1.1
  2     2 ms    12 ms     2 ms  10.2XX.0.1
  3     3 ms     3 ms     3 ms  broadband.actcorp.in [202.83.XX.XXX]
  4     3 ms     3 ms     3 ms  broadband.actcorp.in [202.83.XX.XXX]
  5     6 ms     3 ms     3 ms  14.141.145.5.static-Bangalore.vsnl.net.in [14.14
1.145.5]
  6    15 ms    14 ms    14 ms  172.31.29.245
  7    14 ms    14 ms    14 ms  ix-ae-0-4.tcore1.MLV-Mumbai.as6453.net [180.87.3
8.5]
  8   127 ms   127 ms   132 ms  if-ae-5-2.tcore1.WYN-Marseille.as6453.net [180.8
7.38.126]
  9   123 ms   123 ms   123 ms  if-ae-8-1600.tcore1.PYE-Paris.as6453.net [80.231
.217.6]
 10   119 ms   119 ms   119 ms  if-ae-11-2.tcore1.PVU-Paris.as6453.net [80.231.1
53.49]
 11   126 ms   126 ms   126 ms  be6453.ccr31.par04.atlas.cogentco.com [130.117.1
5.69]
 12   120 ms   119 ms   119 ms  be3184.ccr42.par01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.38
.157]
 13   131 ms   131 ms   131 ms  be3093.ccr22.mrs01.atlas.cogentco.com [130.117.5
0.166]
 14   141 ms   132 ms   132 ms  geant.demarc.cogentco.com [149.6.154.202]
 15   135 ms   134 ms   134 ms  te2-1-lyon2-rtr-021.noc.renater.fr [193.51.177.1
97]
 16   133 ms   133 ms   133 ms  te0-0-0-1-paris2-rtr-001.noc.renater.fr [193.51.
177.9]
 17   135 ms   134 ms   134 ms  te2-1-jussieu-rtr-021.noc.renater.fr [193.51.177
.115]
 18   130 ms   130 ms   130 ms  rap-vl165-te3-2-jussieu-rtr-021.noc.renater.fr [
193.51.181.101]
 19   133 ms   162 ms   369 ms  site-6.01-jussieu.rap.prd.fr [195.221.127.182]
 20   132 ms   132 ms   132 ms  r-upmc1.reseau.jussieu.fr [134.157.254.10]
 21   134 ms   134 ms   134 ms  nephtys.lip6.fr [195.83.118.1]

Trace complete.

C:\>
 
And we are blocked again!

ftp> open ftp.lip6.fr
Connected to nephtys.lip6.fr.
220-

Ce service est assure par le Laboratoire d'Informatique de
l'universite Paris 6 (LIP6) et la Direction des Systemes d'Information
(DSI) de l'universite Pierre et Marie Curie.

Questions/renseignements sur ce serveur : ftpmaint@lip6.fr.

L'heure locale est Sat Jul 15 10:09:56 2017.
Tous les transferts sont enregistres pour permettre l'exploitation
statistique de l'utilisation du serveur.

----------
This service is provided by the ``Laboratoire d'Informatique de
l'universite Paris 6'' (LIP6) and the ``Direction des Systemes
d'Information'' (DSI) of the universite Pierre et Marie Curie.

If you have requests about this server : ftpmaint@lip6.fr.

The local time is Sat Jul 15 10:09:56 2017.
All transfers are logged with your host name and e-mail address
to allow us to make statistics on the server use.
220 ftp.lip6.fr FTP server (NetBSD-ftpd 20100320) ready.

Can't open the reverse port.
 
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