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April 4, 2002 - April 10, 2002

News - April 10,2002

edNET ISP Hit By DDoS Attack

By:mark.j @ 9:27:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

Many of edNET's Edinburg based business ISP customers were left without a service yesterday when the provider became the latest one to fall foul of a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack:

edNET began to experience what it described in an email to users as a "catastrophic network failure" at around 8am yesterday. This resulted in most of edNET's users experiencing difficulties sending email or browsing the Internet throughout yesterday.

Engineers confirmed that the problem was a result of a DDoS attack on its network, and were able to restore services after applying filters to its network nodes, and asking upstream service providers to do the same thing.

Emails from Register readers report that an attack on edNET's ADSL subnets resulted in around 12 hours downtime for some customers (edNET said services were up and running yesterday afternoon). At the height of the attack two of edNET's 45Mbps links were saturated with attack traffic.


The Register's item also notes edNET's belief that the attack was part of a wider assault, which is also known to have hit other ISPs, many of which we've reported on before.

Nildram Offer Wires-Only DSL Hardware

By:mark.j @ 9:21:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

Nildram has today sent along a new press release in which they announce the provision of Modem or Router hardware for use with their Home and Office (Wires-Only) ADSL services:

Nildram add hardware to Wires Only portfolio

Nildram, one of the UK's leading providers of Broadband Internet Access services, have today announced further developments to their ADSL portfolio with the provision of Modem, or Router hardware for use with the Home and Office services.

Nildram can now supply a ZyXel Modem, or Router, as part of a managed package that includes full hardware support for an additional fee, over and above the basic connection service.

In addition, Nildram are also adding a bolt on service to their Broadband ADSL services that will provide a block of IP Addresses, starting with a block of 8, that can be purchased with all services apart from Home500 Lite.

Nildram are taking orders now and details can be found on their Broadband ADSL specific web site at: http://www.getadsl.co.uk

Iain Ogilvie, Nildram's Marketing Manager comments: "We are pleased to announce yet more value added services to our Broadband portfolio that provide an unrivalled variety of options for ADSL users, at a competitive price."

BT Talk Wireless Strategy

By:mark.j @ 9:18:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

Following details of their broadband strategy from earlier in the week, today it's the turn of the operator’s Wireless ambitions.

Ironically just five months after de-merging from its Wireless arm (BT Wireless to mmO2) the operator is once again linking up in order to earn an extra £500Million in annual revenue by 2007.

BT said it would offer corporate customers its own-branded mobile services, buying airtime off wireless offspring mmO2. It would also build the nation's first public access wireless LAN network, which allows laptop users wireless access to a high-speed network in key "hot spots" such as airports.

It expects to have installed 4,000 such 'hotspots' in public areas by 2005. The WLAN announcement anticipates a decision from the UK Radio Agency to allow commercial services to operate across the 2.4GHz radio spectrum. Cisco and Motorola will partner BT in building the network.

The new mobile strategy was expected to contribute 180 million pounds a year in extra revenue by 2005 and up to 500 million pounds annually by 2007, BT said on Wednesday.

"Since the demerger with mmO2, there has been a false assumption that, because we do not now physically own a network, we are somehow no longer in mobile," BT Retail Chief Executive Pierre Danon said in a statement. "As today's announcements demonstrate, that could not be further from the truth."

Alcatel USB ADSL Driver - Warning

By:mark.j @ 9:07:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

ADSLGuide have a brief note this morning that suggests people avoid the new Alcatel USB ADSL Modem drive on Microsoft's Windows Update site.

There seem to be a number of issues with it, including: "The worst part is that it may over write the existing drivers with a set of PPPoE drivers, which is the common standard in the US - but not for all the world including UK."

News - April 9,2002

BT Address 'Direct Access' ADSL Concern

By:mark.j @ 3:43:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

BT has today spoken to quell the growing concern by ISPs that their recently announced 'Direct Access' (Non-ISP) broadband product could be anti-competitive and damage the industry:

One ISP has claimed that BT is abusing its market position and is looking to win a monopoly on the supply of broadband supply.

BT has denied that the "no frills" product poses a threat to ISP, and claimed that it will encourage them to create services and content that will tempt customers onto their value-added broadband products. "This product will only give high-speed access, so users will be able to move from it to an ISP if they want extra services. We think this will encourage ISPs to create compelling broadband content," explained a BT spokesman.

"I very much welcome the confirmation from BT that broadband is at heart of their strategy and the news that 100 more exchanges will be ADSL enabled. These announcements mark another step forward for broadband roll-out in the UK," said e-commerce minister Douglas Alexander in a statement.


Good one BT, if any ISPs were worried before then they're no doubt even more concerned now. Most providers will be aware that once a customer has chosen his or her service then they tend to stay with it.

The majority of people will make a choice the first time around for a reason and this is often based on price, few may choose to upgrade to a more expensive 'ISP' option. It's still difficult to tell without more information, would you choose an access only (literally just access) product if it were cheaper?

BTOpenworld & HMV (CD Distribution)

By:mark.j @ 3:18:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

It looks as if the latest retail entertainment store chain to sign a deal with BTOpenworld for the distribution of its ISP CDs is HMV:

BTOPENWORLD AND HMV BRING BROADBAND TO THE HIGH STREET

BTopenworld has signed a deal with retail entertainment giant, HMV, to put broadband products on the high street.

HMV will be the first high street outlet to offer BTopenworld Internet CDs offering both broadband and narrowband registration. From this week, the first two million CDs will be available in its shops across the UK.

The discs will contain all the software and instructions needed to register for BTopenworld's Home 500 Plug & Go broadband product. Once consumers have registered (and providing they meet all the criteria for receiving broadband), they will receive the necessary hardware and a simple step-by-step guide to install the product themselves. Their broadband connection will go live ten days after purchase.

This follows the announcement that BTopenworld is also launching its broadband discs in 450 BP service stations around the UK. Alison Ritchie, CEO at BTopenworld said: "Our goal is to connect 100,000 homes and businesses to broadband by the end of the year. We see online games and music as being key drivers for broadband and this deal with HMV is a key milestone in our strategy to reach fans."

Stuart Rowe, e-commerce director at HMV Europe commented: "This is great news for the broadband market and e-commerce sectors. The Plug & Go service will allow us to develop rich broadband content for our online customers and enhances HMV's digital distribution strategy."

PlusNet ISP & Direct Debit Payments

By:mark.j @ 3:13:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

PlusNet has today sent us a new press release regarding their ability to accept Direct Debit payments, which will start from 1st June 2002:

PlusNet to Launch Direct Debit Payment option

PlusNet is pleased to announce that they will be accepting Direct Debits from June 1st this year.

In a statement made earlier today, Alistair Wyse, Technical Director for PlusNet, said "We're pleased to be able to offer this service to our customers. We believe in maximising customer choice wherever practicable, and in introducing Direct Debit payments we're making joining PlusNet one of the most hassle-free and convenient ISP experiences in the UK."

Wyse continued, "Together with our uniquely automated Customer Self-Service approach, which can be experienced through the PlusNet Portal at www.plus.net and our referral scheme which enables end users to gain access to the lowest cost ADSL services in the UK, having Direct Debit as a payment option re-enforces the fact that PlusNet is the best option for ADSL."

Direct debit has a number of benefits for users, including convenience of knowing that payments will be made on time, allowing you to budget through regular monthly payments, and the mandatory 10 days notice period in the event of a change being made to the payment amount.

Both existing and new Business and Residential customers will be able to benefit from using the Direct Debit scheme from June 1st.

More details will be announced shortly through the Customer Forums and on Service Status, which are accessed through the PlusNet Portal available at http://portal.plus.net/


Props to PlusNet for also doing a shorter press release =).

Gio Internet Delay 128Kbps - Update 3

By:mark.j @ 3:06:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

We've been sent yet another update today regarding Gio Internet's future 128Kbps ISDN Unmetered dial-up ISP package:

Hi, just a note to update the situation regarding 128k services for our partners.

We are working to resolve a number of issues surrounding the impending launch of 128k ISDN services. Once these issues are resolved and we are confident that we are able to supply a quality service to our partners we will launch the service.

The provision of high-quality services is key to our business and appreciate our customers patience.


Interestingly this update comes from Neonhippo, which appears to be the group behind Gio Internet.

It's certainly unusual since Gio are currently the only NH ISP offering such services, so what about other off-shoots (24-7FreeCall etc.), will they introduce extra packages (like Gio) as well?

The best dial-up ISP in the UK?..

By:mark.j @ 3:00:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

..that's the title of the E-Mail we received this afternoon, which is as follows (purely for entertainment value):

The best dial-up ISP in the UK

With the imminent closure of the NetscapeOnline and Compuserve ISP's many customers will be looking for a new ISP.

We are confident that http://www.RevolutionISP.com offers the best deal in the UK on the basis of the following facts

Free 10 mb webmail (19.99 at hotmail)
Free unlimited e-mail addresses
Free 25 mb web-space
No subscription fees
Up to £2,000 cash when the ISP floats
Up to £200 for each member you have introduced
Local rate dial-up


Best Dial-Up ISP in the UK? Why do so many providers keep saying that they're 'The Best' or 'Top' when quite clearly the situation is very different? Indeed it's nothing more than a bog standard 0845 (Local Call Rate) dialup ISP complete with a strange ISP/Shares offer.

Hampshire Town Gains ADSL

By:mark.j @ 2:48:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

Not long ago we became one of many news sites to highlight the plight of a town in Hampshire (Tadley) that had set-up a petition for broadband.

The good news is that in among the 100 recently enabled exchanges, Tadly had been included:

Nigel Grigsby, organiser of Tadley Wants Broadband, said the campaign had been boosted by the support of local MP Sir George Young who had met with BT executives to plead for a high-speed connection in the area.

Sir George said on his website: "Great news for residents and companies in and around Tadley - BT tell me that this means an extra 6000 residents and 900 companies can now opt for broadband there. But a long way to go to fulfil my aim of "Broadband for all", and I will continue to pursue this both nationally and locally."

However, while Tadley residents look forward to always-on speedy internet access from the end of May, the campaign continues for the sake of surrounding villages.


Good for them, now if only BT could enable another 1,000 to 2,000 exchanges then things would be even better, although 1,610 (Estimated / +500) looks like the total to expect between now and 2003. More @ Web-User.

Irish Government Preps e-Ireland Plan

By:mark.j @ 2:42:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

The Irish government has published its second Action Plan on the Information Society, which is supposed to contain ambitious targets for the broadband and e-government rollout:

The government set out a number of ambitious targets for Ireland in its attempt to continue to promote Ireland as a technology and e-commerce hub. Plans are divided into two areas. The first area is called key infrastructures, which deals with issues such as broadband Internet, the regulatory environment and e-government. The second area is called supporting frameworks, which addresses, e-business, research and development, education and what is called e-inclusion.

Broadband, which has been a contentious topic in Ireland for years, is addressed first in the report and is described as "fundamental to all Information Society objectives." According to New Connections, the government wants to see the widespread availability of affordable, always-on broadband Internet for businesses and consumers throughout Ireland within three years.


You can read more @ ElectricNews.Net. Please note that if there's enough interest then we may start a special section in the forum for those wanting to discuss Ireland's unmetered and broadband situation - let us know.

Problematic Online Shopping?

By:mark.j @ 9:16:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

Fancy buying your food from Asda, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Tesco or Iceland by using the Internet? If so then you might want to think again, a new survey says online supermarket shopping is often beset with problems. Apparently Asda came last out of the five above:

It found major difficulties logging on to websites, wrong orders and frequent delivery delays.

Waitrose and Tesco had the best online shop, but there were still problems with deliveries. Sainsbury's delivered on time but dropped off an order worth £250 instead of £50.


Those that fancy the idea of online shopping with supermarkets or that perhaps already use them may find the full Ananova item of some interest.

BTs Non-ISP ADSL Service Attacked

By:mark.j @ 9:07:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

Since there's not much news this morning we'll pick up on a few quotes from one of the Financial Times newspaper pieces on BTs new Non-ISP 'Direct Access' service.

Before we even know anything about how it's going to work several 'more' ISPs have followed on from yesterday to voice their disgust at the idea:

"I'm absolutely furious, it's an absolutely shameful and disgusting excuse for a service," said Ian Robertson, operations director at Fastnet, one of the small ISPs that BT said should benefit.

"BT always said to us that you can't buy broadband direct through BT you have to get it from an ISP. It was getting to the point where we could trust BT but that's now been destroyed.

With this product, consumers can say 'All I need now is Hotmail, what else do I need an ISP for'.
"

Tim Snape of West Dorset Internet and a member of the council of the Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) condemned the move as illegal under European law and said BT was abusing its significant market power. "Traditionally [Net] access has been the first point of access to the customer. It's used as a hook, as a way of getting the rest of their business as well."


Typically there's not much point in making any comment until we know exactly what BTs plans are, to be announced soon. Of course if it does turn out to be what ISPs fear then the operator could be in for a SLAP.

News - April 8,2002

Zen Internet Feedback - BTs ADSL

By:mark.j @ 2:50:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

Typically one of the UKs largest ISPs in the market for broadband ADSL services, Zen Internet, has been kind enough to give their feedback on today’s BT announcement:

Following on from this morning's BT announcement Zen would like to commend BT on instigating this additional rollout programme. Sales have increased phenomneally with the Wholesale price cuts which went live at the beginning of last week and any attempts to increase the ADSL enabled footfall can only be a good thing.

There are some well populated areas on the new rollout list and it is great to see that they too will soon be able to see the benefits that an ADSL connection can deliver.

Zen's own data, taken from the availability checker on http://www.zenadsl.com has revealed over 20,000 people looking for ADSL unable to receive service. We will be making this data available to BT to aid their future rollout plans.


With any luck that'll help to increase the chances that my own personal area may one day see ADSL as well, although the local cows may not have much use for fast Internet access (remains to be seen =]).

Government Ready - e-Voting

By:mark.j @ 2:46:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

The government has today updated on the status of their Internet/e-Voting trials, which are currently planned for the April/May 2002 local elections. Apparently they're ready and are pressing ahead with the pilot schemes:

Residents in two Hertfordshire wards have been selected to try out home internet and web kiosk voting between April 25 and 27. Later local election trials will test the viability of text messaging and interactive TV.

The government is keen to modernise voting after the poor turnout in the 2001 general election. The Electoral Reform Society reports sample areas for May trials will include parts of Liverpool, Sheffield and the London Borough of Newham.

Parts of Crewe and Nantwich and Swindon will vote online from home, local libraries and council-run kiosks.


More @ Ananova.

BTs Cheaper ADSL Service - Update

By:mark.j @ 2:42:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

Having read this mornings news item you'll probably be aware of 'Direct Access', a new broadband service from BT designed to get people online without the need for an ISP.

Thankfully we've managed to track down some extra information from Reuters. Apparently BT will provide full details, including prices and which markets it is intended for, on April 24 2002.

A spokesman for BT is quoted as saying, "All I can say now is it is seen as a mass enabler for broadband. It's another way for BT to reach its goal of one million new broadband connections by next summer and five million by 2006.

By offering a no-frills product, at the bottom end of the price range, it should stimulate market demand.
"

BT gave few details of the new product, saying only that it would allow customers to connect to the Internet at high speeds, but with basic features. The spokesman suggested that it could mean newsgroups and an e-mail account etc. would be scrapped.

Typically a number of UK ISPs, including AOL and Freeserve, will be watching this new service very closely as it has the potential to damage competition in the market. We should know more toward the end of the month.

BTs 100 New ADSL Exchanges - List

By:mark.j @ 10:02:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

Thanks go out to Grahame for the FYI on where to find the list/details on BTs 100 new ADSL upgraded exchanges - CLICK HERE. Bah.. I've been missed out again =(.

AOL UK/EU Aims To Save £300 Million

By:mark.j @ 9:05:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

The Mail on Sunday newspaper (yesterday) has reported that AOL UK/EU is aiming to save £300 Million by renegotiating its phone contracts with European telecom providers.

Hardly surprising considering that they loose £600 million on revenues of £800 million:

AOL has links with all the major European telecom companies. Internet service providers (ISPs) connect customers to the internet - but at a price. Network costs make up about 80% of ISPs' total outgoings.

A source within AOL told Financial Mail: 'We have recently successfully negotiated new deals at lower costs. We are always looking for better deals and that is where the cost-savings are.'

The source would not say how much the move will save the company, but it is understood to make up a substantial part of the necessary savings. AOL Europe has been under pressure to reduce costs from its parent company, AOL Time Warner, which in turn is suffering from the global slump in the telecoms market.


AOL Europe currently has 5.5Million subscribers of the 35Million strong global total, AOL UK as 1.7Million of that 5.5. This latest measure no doubt combines with their recent price increase (24/7 unmetered package) from £14.99 to £15.99 per month.

Gio Delay 128Kbps Launch - Again

By:mark.j @ 8:50:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

We're note sure whether this is related to the last delay date or not, however Gio Internet has now stated the following on our forum, which was done AFTER the last note about a delay until Wednesday 10th April:

Due to technical issues the 128K ISDN service has been delayed until further notice.

We will keep you informed on progress.

Thankyou for your patience


It looks as if Gio simply said it to ride on the back of Vispa's recent announcement, although no doubt their 128Kbps will follow and we'll try to find out when ASAP.

BT Pins Future On Broadband xDSL

By:mark.j @ 8:46:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

UPDATE: BT has also said that it’s reviewing a further 500 exchanges for future upgrades, no details yet (too early).

Much as expected BT Group has today given details on how it intends to put their broadband strategy at the front of any future plans.

They're still hoping to have 5,000,000 customers by 2005 (wishful thinking?) and will also launch a new 'direct access' broadband product designed to get people online faster by circumventing the ISP:

BT is also bringing broadband services to 100 more exchanges in the UK. This means ADSL services will be available to more than two-thirds of the UK population - a total of 16 million households - by the end of May.

Under the programme, more than 50 further cities and towns will be added to the broadband map, as well as gaps in existing coverage being filled.

The group has also announced its financial targets, including driving its debts to below £10 billion and reinstating dividend payments to shareholders this year.


To be honest they'll need far more than 100 extra exchanges to make any impact in areas outside of towns and cities, it's nothing but a drop in the ocean.

The Ananova item also notes that BT intends to cut capital expenditure for 2002 to less than £3Billion. BTWholesale is expected to save £200Million between now and 2003. No doubt we’ll have more on this later, we’re especially interested in the new areas of coverage and their ‘direct access’ product.

News - April 7,2002

ISP Review Weekly Update

By:mark.j @ 10:25:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

Very little work was done on ISPr this week because I've been unwell for a good 8 days or so. Thankfully I've recovered and did manage the usual updates on Friday as well as some smaller changes.

It's a nice sunny day outside and so I won't spend my time gabbling about what's to come, except to say that we'll try to do some more reviews next week.

Please note that we've just finished the tax year and so I'll be somewhat distracted for the next few weeks/months putting all the usual documentation and calculations together for the Inland Revenue. More next week.

Telewest blueyonder Updates

By:mark.j @ 9:41:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

DigitalSpy has highlighted several key points from Telewest blueyonder's (unmetered and broadband ISP wing) latest monthly update E-Mail. Two of the more interesting ones are below:

UBR upgrades
Broadband customers who have been experiencing issues with connectivity will be pleased to find out that new software will be rolled out over the next two weeks. This new software will fix the problem of the UBRs rebooting, causing a loss of connectivity intermittently. Issues with IP addresses are also set to be resolved, with Telewest's Alex Brown reporting: "Infrastructure testing is on the verge of completion and new configurations will be applied by the end of April which will accommodate the 169 issue. The issue here is users who plug their laptops into a Cable Modem that has previously been plugged into a desktop will be issued a 169.x.x.x IP address, meaning that they cannot get any connectivity."

Transparent Caching
This will be extended to ports 8080 and 3128. Currently only port 80 is cached. This is also in addition to some network infrastructure changes: "This change will allow customers to benefit from both the caching and network infrastructure currently being implemented.

Customers will utilise the core Gigabit connectivity direct onto the Internet from each Regional Head End and the transparent caching infrastructure will provide the shortest path option via the new infrastructure. Therefore customers who have proxy set to use separate caches and ports via their browser would take additional hops and therefore introduce an element of latency.
"

News - April 6,2002

V21 ISP Introduce New Service

By:mark.j @ 10:06:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

The unmetered dialup ISP V21 has announced the launch of a new service, which is one that we find to be quite unusual:

V21 has today launched its 'Gold Members' service which offers all members telephone technical support at national rate charges rather than the ever expensive premium £1 per minute.

All current subscribers to the V21 home user plans can upgrade their account from their personal control panels to include the 'Gold Membership' The additional service is moderatly priced at only £2 per month.

In addition to this change we are now also offering to ALL account holders FREE 'Gold Membership' for the first 7 days of them joining us. This will allow all subscribers to get connections and queries all sorted out without the extra cost.

All Business account holders have already been upgraded to recieve Free 'Gold Membership' and this is now included within the standard business subscription costs.


Unfortunately this latest offering presents V21 as an ISP with customers that NEED to use the support line a lot and must pay extra to afford it; no other explanation is given as to why they need it, probably because it's difficult to justify.

We, of course, don't believe any ISP should ever have a support line costing £1 or even 50pence per minute. People should never have to pay above local call rate charges for help with a commercial product, that’s just our ‘general’ belief.

BTs Future Broadband Strategy

By:mark.j @ 9:44:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

By now most people should already know that BT is set to announce its future broadband strategy plan anytime now, yet the timescale has previously been unknown.

Thankfully ADSLGuide is now reporting a bit of news they claimed from 'The Guardian' newspaper; apparently BTs strategy will be announced next week:

So what can we expect, well the feeling is that we will see further enabling of exchanges to support ADSL, possibly 100 exchanges in the near future. Which 100 exchanges? Just have to wait and see - as soon as we have a list that we believe to be correct we will publish it.

More BTOpenworld Billing Problems

By:mark.j @ 9:39:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

Some may remember the recent billing problems at BTOpenworld following the price reductions to their various ADSL offers; apparently at least one person has now also been charged twice:

But if you think that's bad, hear this. We've just been contacted by another BTo punter who's been charged twice on the same bill - once at the old price of £39.99 and again at the new price £29.99.

To be realistic this isn't too shocking unless it's occurring for a larger number of people, every commercial business makes billing mistakes now and then.

Indeed things can also go the other way, we know of one person that doesn't get charged by BTO for his ADSL due to a problem with the signup, which seems to have given him a free line for the past 7 months. More @ The Register.

News - April 5,2002

Lack Of ADSL SLA Could Slow Uptake

By:mark.j @ 2:56:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

Apparently the lack of an acceptable Service Level Agreement (SLA) for businesses combined with slower upload speeds and restrictive contention ratios is causing problems with the uptake of ADSL:

Star Internet has turned to Fibernet to roll out its broadband service for SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) using an alternative technology, SDSL (symmetric digital subscriber line).

ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) suffers a number of technical limitations. Data rates downstream are much higher than upstream, which for most applications isn't a problem but does make it unsuitable for users who wish to upload large amounts of data.
SDSL has an equal data rate flow both up- and downstream.

But a more significant problem is that ADSL has high contention rates - in other words, net connections can be disrupted if lots of people are logged on through the same exchange. SDSL has a lower contention rate.


The issue of Service Level Agreements is not a new one and indeed the current regulation doesn't go far enough, unfortunately we don't see any sign of BT planning to offer them, they have other ideas. More @ Silicon.

Telewests 'Unlimited' Double Standards

By:mark.j @ 2:41:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

Having earlier mocked BT for their use of the word 'Unlimited', today Telewest is being given a dose of their own medicine for making a similar mistake themselves:

Our thanks to all our readers who spotted this on Telewest's own Web site which raises questions about the cableco's own understanding of the word "unlimited".

It refers to Telewest's own "Talk Unlimited" phone tariff which it claims will "revolutionise the way you use the phone" because "now you can talk as much as you like for just £25 a month, including line rental".

It's "unlimited", of course, but just as long as you don't make "non-geographic, mobile, international, premium rate or Internet calls" since these are all charged at our standard rates. An "unlimited" service with limits? Maybe.


Unfortunately far too many ISPs and operators jump at the chance to use 'Unlimited' in their advertising, thus the broad range of the term is often overlooked. More @ The Register.

British e-Tailing Growing FAST

By:mark.j @ 2:36:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

New research has shown that e-Tailing in the UK is growing faster than the USA:

Interactive Media in Retail claims online retailing already accounts for almost 3% of all retail. That's around double the proportion in the US.

The report also suggests that UK shoppers aren't just looking for bargains when they go online.

Industry group member Virgin Wines has found that online customers spend nearly twice the national average per bottle.


More @ Ananova.

Gio Delay 128Kbps Unmetered Launch

By:mark.j @ 12:17:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

Just a quick note to say that Gio Internet has updated their site to note a delay with the introduction of their new dual-channel 128Kbps unmetered ISDN package (thanks Keith):

Due to a few minor technical issues the 128k ISDN will now launch on Wednesday the 10th

Tiscali's Excite Purchase = Pointless

By:mark.j @ 9:42:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

Helen Omwando, an analyst for Forrester Research, has said that Tiscali's £1.83Million purchase of the remaining 30% of Excite Italia is 'Pointless' and will not turn it into a leading European ISP:

Omwando said: "This doesn't evolve Tiscali to a top tier position in Europe at all. Tiscali is ranked second in Italy but the top Italian ISP Virgilio dominates with 60 per cent of the market."

However, CEO of Tiscali UK Sergio Cellini said: "It made a lot of sense to purchase the remainder of Excite Italia from Excite@home as we owned most of it anyway. We are particularly interested in its portal technology which will be used for Tiscali. The brand is an add-on that we may or may not use."

Tiscali has been involved in heavy ISP acquisition activity across Europe over the last two years and is now gearing up to publicly consolidate its holdings under the Tiscali brand.


The Silicon item notes others as having said that Tiscali has swallowed more ISPs than it can successfully turn around.

Telewest Mock BT - ASA Ruling

By:mark.j @ 9:32:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

Earlier in the week we reported on how the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) had slapped BT for its BT Together advert and the use of the word 'Unlimited'. Today one of their rivals, Telewest, has mocked the operator over the ruling:

David Hobday of Telewest said: "BT obviously doesn't know the meaning of the word unlimited."

And to prove a point, Telewest pitched up with a poster with a dictionary definition of the word on it.

BT, for future reference...
unlimited/adj.
without limit;
unrestricted;
very great in number or quantity (has unlimited possibilities; an unlimited expanse of sea).
unlimitedly adv.
unlimitedness n.


Many readers will know that the word 'Unlimited' is often ABUSED in the unmetered ISP world as well. The Register reports that BT thinks it's all, "a bit wet."

PIPEX Defends BT From Freeserve

By:mark.j @ 9:25:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

Over the past week we've seen AOL UK, Freeserve and BTOpenworld all slapping one or the other around at one point in time for a number of reasons.

Today PIPEX, one of the UKs largest broadband ADSL providers, has stepped in to defend BT against Freeserve's latest remarks:

Pipex managing director David Rickards was uncompromising in his comments about Freeserve, accusing the company of attacking BT as a way of distracting attention from its own failure to market broadband effectively.

He told silicon.com: "This is below the belt tactics by Freeserve. To me it sends out signs of commercial weakness and illustrates the hesitancy of their own broadband plans.

Their business plan has let them down and they are doing the broadband story no favours by attacking BT like this. Freeserve needs to learn that the business is about provisioning customers and providing a service, not just getting CDs into shops.
"


Pipex, which was eerily the first provider (even before BTs announcement) to lower prices below the £30 mark, has managed to attract 14,000 users in just over two months. More @ Silicon.

News - April 4,2002

ISPs Complain - Poor ADSL Coverage

By:mark.j @ 3:58:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

It was bound to happen, ISPs have started to complain that the increased demand in DSL contrasted with a lack of coverage means that they have to keep turning customers away:

Many potential customers, though, are being disappointed because their local exchange isn't ADSL-enabled. ISPs, who are having to turn orders away, would like to see BT rolling out broadband to many more than the current 1,000 or so local exchanges that have been ADSL-enabled to date. There are about 5,500 local exchanges in the UK.

BT's commercial rollout of ADSL currently covers around 60 percent of homes and 70 percent of Internet users, and the telco believes that it simply isn't commercially viable to bring ADSL to less-populated rural areas where there are much fewer potential customers than in a town or city.

The word from some ISPs, though, is that there is plenty of pent-up demand in those areas without ADSL.


The ZDNet item can only be good news because we already knew that BTs hoping to increase the number of enabled exchanges to 1,550 or so over the next couple of years.

The more pressure, the faster the exchanges are enabled and indeed the greater the overall total - we hope. This is where we see if BT really does stick to its promise of enabling exchanges where demand is strong.

BTO Launch Internet Business Pack

By:mark.j @ 3:45:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

BTOpenworld has today reported the launch of a new package to help SMEs make the most of the Internet as a business medium. Press release follows:

The Business ISP offers complete Internet business pack to help smaller companies punch above their weight

BTopenworld has launched a unique new package to help SMEs make the most of the Internet as a business medium. Each 'Internet Business Pack' includes everything a business needs to capitalise on its Broadband connection and establish a professional online presence.

The Internet Business Pack offers small companies a quick and easy route to creating an online presence. Along with high-speed, always-on Internet access, customers will receive the services necessary to take their business online successfully, including Web space, email accounts and a domain name, plus tools to help market their business more widely using the Internet.

Subscribers will also benefit from two exclusive services. Customers will be given free membership of an extensive online community, through inclusion in BTopenworld's online Web directory. They will also receive a free 'Web Card' - a pre-designed Web page complete with company details - to ensure their Web strategy is up and running as soon as they are connected. This is ideal for small businesses who want to begin marketing online without any hassle.

To put wireless Local Area Networking (LAN) within easy reach of SMEs, BTopenworld is also reducing the cost of its Wireless LAN product by more than 10 per cent, from April 2, 2002. Businesses subscribing to the service will be able to share one line between a number of PCs. This offers companies hot-desking capabilities, enabling them to make the most of their network resources at low cost and without the restrictions of excessive wiring.

The Internet Business Pack includes:

• Business Card on the Web
• Trade Park entry to the BTopenworld online resource centre
• co.uk domain name
• Static IP address
• 20 email accounts, which can be associated with the domain name
• 30Mb of extra Web space
• Advice on optimising search engine inclusion


The Internet Business Pack follows the recently launched Plug & Go Business 500 product, the launch of a Broadband Satellite service, as well as a raft of Broadband price cuts. With these new Broadband initiatives, BTopenworld is targeting the 38 per cent2 of the UK's 3.7 million SMEs which currently don't have an online presence.

The Internet Business Pack is immediately available to new Broadband customers and costs £10 per month plus VAT. The Business 500 product with the Internet Business Pack is priced at £39.99 per month plus VAT. The Internet Business Pack can also be purchased with the following Broadband products:

• Business 500 PLUS (£89.99, per month plus VAT)
• Business 1000 PLUS (£129.99, per month plus VAT)
• Business 2000 PLUS (£159.99, per month plus VAT)

All prices exclude VAT and are applicable from April 1, 2002. BTopenworld Broadband utilises ADSL technology and is subject to a satisfactory survey, installation charges and activation, and a 12-month minimum term. Further details on BTopenworld Broadband products and prices are available at www.btopenworld.com/broadband. To order BTopenworld Broadband call 0800 389 2341.


Note that because of the size of this PR we were forced to remove two paragraphs of ‘speech’, the rest is left.

Energis Woes Continue

By:mark.j @ 3:40:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]

The telecoms and networking group behind several UK ISPs, Energis, has today said that it would no longer continue funding its Swiss based operations. The group also confirmed its UK strategy:

Energis also said it remained "committed to its strong UK business", adding that it has the financial support of its banks.

In February Energis said it planned to sell it continental European operations following an revenue warning which rocked investor confidence.

The alternative carrier also confirmed that it planned to axe 400 UK jobs in a bid to save £25 million a year.


More @ The Register.

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