ISPreview investigates the future of ISDN in the UK

"Isdn is a natural progression from modems but as to its future we can only wait and see what broadband will offer in the way of pricing etc for the normal home user, they might find that Isdn is economically more of an option, as I'm sure the pricing structures will make it more accessible to them. Plus the rate at which the broadband is being made available to home users is slow and waiting for it is not really an option.

John."

"ISDN has been and will continue to be the most reliable connection for online gaming, simply because it offers a sustained transfer rate, which maintains a low ping with very little variance.

ADSL and C-Modems on the other hand are extremely erratic and for the most part unreliable.

Until the stability of broadband technology improves I can seriously see ISDN being around for many years to come.

Chris."

"I'm new to ISDN (home highway) and very pleased, the step up from modem is noticeable, connections are reliable and fast. Broadband won't be available in my area for years, making ISDN my, along with 10s of thousands of people living in the sticks, only option. Hopefully with broadband introduction ISDN pricing will fall in line, but I do feel it will be here for some years yet."

Those Against

"ISDN is on its way out - and that's a fact! On current pricing levels it's hopelessly uncompetitive when compared to the emerging ADSL and cable modem services that offer much greater speed for a flat rate charge. It will carry on for a while longer, but expect BT to slowly phase it out in or around 2002. Those who are expecting ISDN to carry on forever will have a very rude awakening indeed!"

"What makes you think that BT wants to make ISDN competitive. Letting it die is probably best. Everyone seems to have this idea that since ISDN is slower than ADSL it should cost less. Just because there is a newer way to do something does NOT make the old ways of doing it suddenly easier or less expensive. Same goes for analogue modems, everyone says 'gee ADSL is only #35 for unlimited access so modems should cost even less' but that's just not how it works. ADSL is cheap because it is cheap to roll out and maintain, it is BETTER. That does mean people will switch to using ADSL but it does not mean that ISDN will suddenly become cheaper. Let ISDN die.."

The Final View

We did our best to get some comments out of BT, but as yet they haven't replied in two weeks and so that counts as a, "No Comment". The same goes for several key Cable Companies. That said and our friends @ Vispa Internet were able to give their view:

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