February 3, 2003 - February 7, 2003
News - February 7,2003
Rapid Reaction Force For CyberCrime
By:mark.j @ 1:38:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The European Commission (EC) is expect to announce plans for a new pan-European rapid reaction force, which would be specifically designed to take on Internet based CyberCrime:
"The task force would enable member states' authorities... to liase with each other to respond better and more efficiently to any threat to vital networks," the spokesman told Reuters on Thursday.
Individual European Union member states already operate crisis units against threats posed by Internet hackers and spreaders of computer viruses.
The new set-up would enable the 15-nation EU to run a single, round-the-clock information exchange system against cyberattacks.
Recent problems, such as the SQL Slammer worm, have only helped to heighten awareness of online crime. The above move coupled with new laws mean that online criminals, such as hackers and virus writers, would be easier to catch and could face years in jail. More @ ZDNet. |
Via Wants Broadband SDSL SLAs
By:mark.j @ 1:30:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] VIA NET.WORKS UK, a provider of managed Internet services, has today stated the importance of being able to backup broadband SDSL with proper service level agreements (SLAs):
SDSL ROLLOUTS MUST BE BACKED UP BY SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS, SAYS VIA NET.WORKS UK
With BT announcing that it is to upgrade 180 telephone exchanges to support Symmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL) broadband services, VIA NET.WORKS UK, a provider of managed Internet services for business, is calling for providers of business broadband services to back up their connections with service level agreements (SLAs).
Jeff Meulman, VIA UK's managing director said: "VIA welcomes BT's efforts to make SDSL more widely available, but we have been concerned that BT is not backing up the service with a SLA.
SLAs define levels of uptime and response times to repair faults," continued Meulman. "These thresholds will be critical to businesses who rely heavily on their Internet services.
While home users may be prepared to cope with occasional periods of downtime, bandwidth hungry SMEs - which are the target market for SDSL - simply cannot afford to opt for services which offer no recourse if things go wrong," Meulman added.
Working with Fibernet as its wholesale provider, VIA has been offering SDSL business broadband services backed up with SLAs since July 2002.
Nigel Pitcher, director of marketing at Fibernet said: "Alongside its partners such as VIA, Fibernet has been at the forefront of rolling out SDSL services for UK businesses. Seizing the opportunity to bring SMEs faster, cheaper and more reliable access, and enabling them to benefit from advanced services denied to ADSL users, would however, be of little benefit if their service suffered as a result of poor SLAs. Fibernet has always had the confidence to back up the service with comprehensive, business-class SLAs."
VIA SDSL business broadband services are currently available in central areas of Bristol, Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, London and Warrington.
Further details are available from http://www.vianetworks.co.uk |
Broadband Boosts Online Film Rentals
By:mark.j @ 1:23:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Results from a new survey by Forrester Research have found that interest is growing in the use of online movie rentals, especially among broadband users:
According to the research conducted in North America, only 2% of dial-up and 10% of broadband subscribers have rented a movie through an online service like Netflix. The proportion of users interested in trying such a service in the future was reasonably high, however, at 13% and 25% respectively.
Amongst broadband users, approximately 34% are now thought to stream video from the web and 31% to download it. The research also revealed that the average broadband user had a collection of 55 video tapes and 16 DVDs, indicating a general ‘movie-buff’ correlation with broadband that is good news for rental service providers.
Unfortunately the growth of such Video-on-Demand (VoD) based services may only be short-lived because many whom have tried it stated that they would not do so again.
This could be because even modern technology still isn't quite able to match the experience of playing a DVD on your TV. Quality and cost issues are most often to blame. More @ Europemedia. |
Gov Wireless Auction Criticised - Again
By:mark.j @ 9:53:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Having already been attacked by several Welsh Assembly members, the government’s latest broadband wireless auction of 3.4GHz licenses has now also been hit by comments from a U.S wireless guru:
Dave Hughes, a retired US Army colonel and one of the pioneers of the Internet and wireless broadband, is determined to force the government to change the auction process.
In a hard-hitting email to e-envoy Andrew Pinder, Hughes -- who has advised Andrew Davies about wireless broadband -- slammed as "outrageous" the way the RA has drawn up the 3.4GHz licences.
"It will act to INCREASE the digital divide. The whole charade comes across to me as a DELIBERATE effort to deny large areas of Wales the benefits of broadband. This, after British Telecom under your regulatory polices has utterly failed to bring broadband to Wales for the last 10 years. And now your government itself is perpetuating the economic discrimination by Wireless Auction! I am outraged!" wrote Hughes.
Interestingly the ZDNet item quotes a spokesman for the e-envoy as stating that such a message has not yet been received. That's probably because their new junk e-mail (SPAM) filtering service has eaten it =), it'd certainly be a handy excuse. |
Tiscali's Latest Free ADSL Promotion
By:mark.j @ 9:46:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] UK ISP Tiscali has apparently jumped on the discount bandwagon and is now offering any potential broadband customers a free ADSL modem and connection. That's a saving of roughly £115.
Not surprisingly the offer runs until the end of March and the service subscription itself remains @ £27 per month. A similar offer was made to EXISTING customers last December (2002), although this one is apparently open to everybody.
http://www.tiscali.co.uk/products/broadband |
News - February 6,2003
ISPr's ISP OF THE YEAR - 2002 Awards
By:mark.j @ 2:55:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] ISP Review UK would very much like to hear the public’s opinion on which service you believe deserves to win our ISP OF THE YEAR - 2002 award.
Please try to take into account all aspects of your highlighted service, such as support quality, cost, general stability over the past 12 months from January to December 2002, network performance (speed) and services. Don’t be afraid to mention any problems you’ve encountered as well, we’re primarily interested in your final opinion, be it good or bad.
Our final decision will be based off reader opinion combined with our own observations of the various services. This should not be seen as a final vote, it’s merely the first information gathering stage of a longer process. Please do not use this discussion to argue about any one specific service, merely post your opinion as required above.
Please note that these topics are only for use by true ISP customers; providers found attempting to prejudice the discussion will be removed from any final shortlist. ISP representatives should not post in this topic. Unrelated posts may be removed.
Finally, we have expanded our coverage to include broadband ADSL and Cable Modem ISPs, a separate discussion topic is included below for each. Wireless and Satellite services have only recently begun to spring up in any number and will therefore be excluded until next year; much as occurred with ADSL during 2001.
Please click the link to your associated service type; this will take you to the relevant discussion forum (Members Only):
ISP OF THE YEAR – 2002 (Unmetered Dialup)
ISP OF THE YEAR – 2002 (Cable Modem)
ISP OF THE YEAR – 2002 (R/ADSL) |
Hutchison 3G ('3') Details Pricing
By:mark.j @ 2:44:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Having recently confirmed its mid-March 2003 launch date, 3 (three / Hutchison3G UK) has today also confirmed the first three (no pun intended) of its broadband wireless mobile phone packages and pricing:
3ToGo (Pay-as-you-go):
Free e-mail and surfing services until the end of June.
Same Network Voice Calls = 5pence per minute (ppm)
External Network Calls = 10ppm+
Video/Data Calls = 50ppm
SMS = 10ppm
Picture Messages = 25ppm
Kit On 3 - £59.99 Per Month:
Free e-mail and surfing services until the end of June.
Free Voice Calls = 1,000 minutes
Free Video Calls = 100 minutes
Free Text SMS = 250 Messages
Free Downloads = 50
Free Pictures Messages = 60
Free Video Messages = 40
Caboodle On 3 - £99.99 Per Month:
Double the free calls, downloads and messages etc. for each category mentioned above. |
Eurotel Buys Into BTs vISP Package
By:mark.j @ 1:26:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] BTWholesale has today announced a new deal with Eurotel, which will provide the operator with a fully outsourced Virtual ISP (vISP) solution:
BT WHOLESALE PROVIDES VIRTUAL ISP SERVICE TO EUROTEL
BT Wholesale today announced that it has signed a deal with Eurotel, the UK's leading independent business communications provider, to provide a fully outsourced Virtual Internet Service Provider (VISP) solution. The VISP solution enables Eurotel to offer fully branded Internet Service Provider (ISP) services to business customers, wholly managed by BT Wholesale and hosted on its Wholesale Application Service Provider (WhASP) platform.
Eurotel's ISP service comes as a response to customers' requirements for a 'one bill' solution for all of their business communication services, including fixed line, mobile and Internet. However, the capital and operation expenditure (CAPEX and OPEX) associated with setting up a new ISP service led them to choose BT Wholesale's VISP service. The package allowed Eurotel to go to market quickly with a fully branded Internet and email solution which was simple to sell and maintain with minimal resource support and management required.
The VISP service also provides hosting for specific tasks such as end user authentication, registration, billing, and dial up connection via PSTN and ISDN connections.
The number of service providers adopting a virtual business model is set to increase by 50 per cent by 20051. This approach is becoming increasingly attractive during current uncertainty in the telecoms industry, as service providers can expand their product portfolio or extend the brand, whilst reducing capital and operational expenditure (CAPEX and OPEX).
Phil Allingan, Eurotel Group Sales Manager, commented: "As part of an ongoing commitment to provide a complete business communications solution, we are delighted to join forces with BT Wholesale. The partnership has the infrastructure, experience and support in place to lead to continued market growth."
Stuart Horwood, Managing Director BT Wholesale Markets, commented: "This is a great example of how BT Wholesale can enable companies to build entirely new revenue streams, without the costs that are normally associated with creating their own infrastructure."
This announcement follows an ongoing relationship between Eurotel and BT Wholesale, working in partnership on 'Calls & Access' and ISDN. |
Cheshire Develops Broadband Network
By:mark.j @ 10:13:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Cheshire County Council is apparently developing a whopping £10 Million broadband network, which will be designed to cover 500 sites across the region:
The Connected Cheshire project uses a mixed radio and fixed line infrastructure to provide high-speed access to a range of sites including 192 council offices, 346 schools, 39 libraries, and youth centres, leisure facilities and highway depots.
The five-year deal was signed with services vendor EDS in July last year and after six months of preliminary work the first sites are now coming on line. Phase one of the project will see 117 locations connected by Easter, 350 by the end of the year, and the full 500 by the end of 2004.
The council chose to develop a predominantly radio-based network because of the lower long-term costs, says Connected Cheshire project manager John Barrett.
Unfortunately there’s no mention of exactly which broadband wireless spectrum will be used in the project. More @ VNUNet. |
IoD – Broadband Helps To Cut Costs
By:mark.j @ 10:00:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The Institute of Directors (IoD) has released the results of their latest survey, which found that broadband technology has helped to cut costs in more than three-quarters of businesses:
Of the 150 IoD members that responded, 63% have broadband but only 10% feel their needs are met. More than two-thirds believe geographical coverage needs to improve for wider adoption of the technology and 48% think the government should provide more grants to facilitate take up.
Ecommerce minister Stephen Timms told Computing: 'It is great to see British businesses taking advantage of the opportunities broadband offers and it is getting clearer by the day that broadband Britain is really taking off.
The IoD's statistics support evidence from Oftel last week that there is much greater awareness of broadband and appreciation of its benefits. There is still a long way to go but we are well on the way to creating a highly competitive broadband market - providing UK businesses with choice and value for money,' added Timms.
Perhaps the biggest revelation is that while more and more businesses are recognising the importance of broadband, many feel that existing technologies (ADSL etc.) will not be enough for the future. More @ VNUNet. |
ISPs Gain Easy Wireless-LAN Solution
By:mark.j @ 9:51:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Juniper Networks has announced new technology that's designed to make it easier for ISPs and Telco’s to develop their own broadband wireless-LAN services:
The company has released extensions to its E-series broadband remote access routers, commonly used by service providers in DSL and cable networks, and SDX-300 network operations software, to make the technology more suitable for wireless LAN rollouts.
According Alan Taylor, UK technical director of Juniper Networks, the firm's technology provides more customisation features and is more scalable than current wireless-LAN gateways.
The Juniper pitch is simple enough: service providers can more easily scale hotspot networks and add new services by consolidating the user authentication and service creation functions from many hotspots around its platform.
More @ The Register. |
Gov SPAM Filtering Blocks Welsh
By:mark.j @ 9:44:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Following on from our earlier item regarding how the new House of Commons junk e-mail (SPAM) filter was erasing legitimate messages, it's now emerged that anything written in Welsh is also removed =):
The four MPs of the Welsh party, Plaid Cymru, have noticed that bilingual English-and-Welsh e-mails sent to them have been rejected for allegedly having "inappropriate content".
The gremlins in the House of Commons' software are thought to have turned back the party's staff bilingual newsletter as well as other legal and decent correspondence.
The electronic scanner was introduced last month after MPs complained about being inundated with pornographic and rude e-mails, many apparently by disgruntled constituents.
We can't help but wonder exactly which system is being used; it's certainly not one worth recommending. More @ BBC News Online. |
BT Introduces New Internet Kiosks
By:mark.j @ 9:37:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] As a supplement to its existing 1,200 blue Internet booths on high streets across the UK, BT is to increase the rollout of its new Neptune 1000 Internet kiosks.
The operator hopes to have installed 20,000 such units by the end of 2006, primarily in locations such as railway and underground stations:
The company will also sell the units to commercial customers, including retailers, governmental institutions and companies in the leisure and travel industries, offering them an opportunity to source additional revenues.
From the units, users can make pay-as-you-go phone calls, browse the web, email and send text messages, and connect up accessories including printers and web cams.
The roll-out will see 300 shipped before the end of March and an additional 900 supplied in the next financial year.
The netimperative.info item reports that BT's new Neptune 1000 kiosks are sourced from Marconi. |
News - February 5,2003
Nildram Upgrades Managed Platform
By:mark.j @ 2:44:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] UK ISP Nildram has upgraded its Sun Cobalt RaQ ‘Managed Platform’ service with the Industry Leading Sun Cobalt RaQ550 range of server appliances:
Nildram launch RaQ550 ‘Managed Platform’
One of the UK’s leading business Internet Service Providers, Nildram, have upgraded their popular Sun Cobalt RaQ ‘Managed Platform’ service with the Industry Leading Sun Cobalt RaQ550 range of server appliances.
Nildram’s RaQ550 ‘Managed Platform’ is targeted at the SME market, where many companies have outgrown existing virtual hosting services and are looking for a high performance, stable, reliable and robust dedicated platform, it is also applicable to Web design agencies who want to offer their own customers a full service of design and hosting, as well as smaller VISPs looking to resell webspace to third parties.
Most ISP RaQ hosting solutions are little more than Co-Location services, with supply of the hardware, internet connection and virtually nothing else. As well as the high level of performance provided by the Nildram backbone, Nildram’s RaQ Managed Platform services include a choice of 3 RaQ550 models, a dedicated 128kbps of bandwidth, with a 2Mbps ‘burst’ capability at no extra cost. The service includes full 24/7 support and a backup package is available. In addition to training on the RaQ interface, Nildram engineers are on hand whenever a customer installs a new application, ensuring that there are no unforeseen glitches.
Iain Ogilvie, Nildram’s Marketing Manager comments: “The Nildram RaQ Managed Platform has been a popular service that has allowed companies to concentrate on building their business, rather than worrying about hardware, bandwidth, disk space and backup.” ”The move to the higher specification RaQ550 range of server appliances makes this package even more attractive and will, we believe, further stimulate the popularity of this service." He continues: “With the free 2Mbps burst facility, utilising data prioritisation, there are no hidden ‘surprises’ should there be a sudden rise in traffic.” |
Office Internet Surfers Don't Slack
By:mark.j @ 2:37:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The National Technology Readiness Survey of 501 people has found that while employees may waste time surfing on the job, they tend to make up for it in their off hours by working from home:
The survey found that people with web access at home and at work spend an average of 3.7 hours per week surfing sites for personal use at work. But they spend more time, 5.9 hours per week, logging on from home so they can work.
"The survey suggests companies should accept some personal use of the internet at work as not only inevitable, but as positive to the organisation," Roland Rust, director of the business school's Centre for e-Service, said in a statement. "Totally segregating work from personal activities might result in a net decline in work performed, not to mention lower workplace morale."
The study comes as more and more employers are cracking down on personal web surfing. Results regarding productivity did not apply to workers without home web access, however. Those people spent an average of 6.5 hours per week surfing at work while spending just 3.7 hours a week working from home.
More @ Silicon. |
NTLs Concern - BT & Sky's Partnership
By:mark.j @ 1:33:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The UKs largest cable operator, NTL, has asked Oftel to investigate BT and BSkyB's broadband partnership after it raised some competitive concerns:
The cable operator objected to BT's offer of 'special terms' on its broadband service for Sky subscribers, claiming it puts its competitors at a disadvantage and shows discrimination against the telco's customers who have not also signed up to the satellite TV operator.
The two firms linked up in October last year to offer BT Broadband, its no-frills internet package, to Sky satellite TV subscribers without the normal £80 up-front equipment charge if they signed up via Sky.com.
Customers were also offered an extra £20 credit to their bills if they subscribed for 12 months, leaving them with only the £60 connection fee and £27 monthly subscription to pay.
Oftel is currently investigating whether the offer breaches condition 57 of BT's licence, no doubt we'll have to wait a little while before knowing the answer. More @ netimperative.info . |
BT Expands Broadband SDSL Rollout
By:mark.j @ 1:26:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] ADSLGuide reports that BTWholesale is set to rollout broadband SDSL (Symmetric DSL) services to 178 new exchanges beyond London!:
March 2003 will see 28 additional exchanges supporting SDSL and April 2003 will see another 150 added to the list.
The rollout will result in a mixture of ADSL and SDSL at the exchanges, since it would appear that BT are to deploy SDSL on the existing Fujitsu FDX DSLAMs.
It’s unclear whether or not this increased rollout is related to the recent agreement between BT and Bulldog Communications regarding the same subject. |
Opera v7.01 Web Browser Released
By:mark.j @ 1:00:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Opera, the commercial web-browser, has today issued an update to its recently released version seven web browser client. The new update, v7.01, is designed to address a number of recently discovered security vulnerabilities.
http://www.opera.com |
Telco4u.net Unmetered Service
By:Keith @ 12:15:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Today we found another telephone provider that also offers an unmetered package for customers. Telco4u.net requires you to signup to their telephone service and then, depending on your call spend, you can signup for their unmetered service. Prices are as follows:
If you spend less than £10 on telephone calls per month then the unmetered service costs £14.99 per month. Spend £10 or more then its £13.99, £20 or more its £12.99 and £30 of calls or more it goes down to £11.99 per month.
We asked telco4u.net a few questions about their service and this was their response:
Do you need to have a Telephone account to be able to use the unmetered service
You will need to have a Telco phone account, but you don't have to use the phone service.
What Payment Methods do you accept
Unmetered customers are required to pay by direct debit.
Are there any restrictions on the usage, i.e. 160 hours per month, 2 hour disconnect etc.
There is a 2hour disconnection period.
What types of dialup number do you use, 0808 or a prefix
We use an 0808 number
Is there any minimum contract period
You have to use the service for 2 months before you can cancel
What is the timescale for setting up new accounts
We can set you up on the unmetered service over the phone if you call us on 0800 5947500. Alternatively visit the website telco4u.net |
Gov Defends Wireless Auction Plans
By:mark.j @ 10:23:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The government is having to defend its latest 3.4Ghz broadband wireless auction plans after several members of the Welsh Assembly claimed that Wales would loose out because of them:
The government has decided that four of these licences will each include a part of Wales as well as a part of England, and rejected an alternative suggestion that there should be two Wales-only licences.
By bundling areas of Wales in with parts of England -- which are typically more densely populated and thus more commercially attractive to a wireless broadband provider -- Wales stands a better chance of getting affordable wireless broadband, the government believes. Members of the Welsh Assembly are not convinced, though.
Andrew Davies, Welsh Assembly minister for economic development, is reported to have said that in its present form the auction would be "to the detriment of Wales."
The assembly members appear to fear that the different demographics (English metropolitan areas paired with Welsh 'remote and rural' areas) could damage business models. More @ ZDNet. |
Manchester Regenerated - Broadband
By:mark.j @ 10:07:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Manchester City is set to become Britain's latest broadband success story following a council plan to subsidise hi-speed wireless services in the East Manchester district:
The Eastserve scheme provides low-cost wireless internet access to 150 of the area's homes, and could support as many as 5000 users by early summer.
The project started in April last year, and now includes a 5.7Ghz backbone connecting 17 schools, eight UK Online centres and 10 public access points in places such as libraries, using 802.11b wireless connections. Nine antennae feed connectivity to local homes but there are plans for 50 nodes by April.
The council pays for installation of receiving equipment in local homes and residents pay a monthly rate with free access to email and some sites such as the council and UK Online. The service costs £6 for daytime weekday access, and £24 for a round-the-clock service.
It's hoped that the new scheme will help to regenerate Manchester. More @ VNUNet. |
Jupiter’s Cut-Price Telco Warning
By:mark.j @ 10:02:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Jupiter Information Technology, an Independent IT group, has warned consumers about the dangers of third party operators that claim to offer cheaper phone calls than BT:
Analysing 199 calls made via the company during January, Jupiter IT found that had it signed up to VarTec Telecom Europe Ltd, then its bill for the month would have been £7.63 more than had it been billed directly via BT.
"It is becoming commonplace to receive promotional mail exhorting a householder to use a Telecoms supplier for their phone calls instead of BT," said Jupiter IT.
"There is a great temptation to take these promises at face value, since often comparisons are printed on the promotional material, which seem to bear out the claims made," it said.
The short of it is, do your homework before choosing a provider. More @ The Register. |
Oftels January 2003 ADSL Factsheet
By:mark.j @ 9:57:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Oftels broadband ADSL Factsheet has once again been updated for the period covering November 2002 to the end of January 2003.
The number of ADSL enabled exchanges has now increased from 1,120 to 1,140, although overall penetration remains at 66%.
There are currently a total of 610,000 active broadband ADSL connections, with 10,000 of that value belonging to Kingston Communications and the rest being for BT:
Developments
Broadband Registration Scheme: BT has decided to remove the 42-day confirmation process from its registration scheme. Once trigger levels are met and confirmed by BT, work will begin to upgrade the exchange.
Reduced Trigger levels: BT has lowered the threshold levels of customer interest required before an exchange is upgraded for broadband. The maximum demand trigger level will now be 550 registrations and triggers have been lowered by as much as 450 user registrations.
Exchanges in build stage: There are now at least 97 exchanges in build stage. This includes exchanges that have been moved to build stage as a result of the changes to the registration scheme.
On-line availability checker update: BT’s online availability checker (http://www.bt.com/broadband) has been updated to inform customers where an incompatible product is present on the line. Customers who have ISDN or Home Highway services are made aware that they will have to cease the service before proceeding with ADSL.
Launch of Broadband Standard Care: BT Wholesale has amended its Standard Care package for some of its services. The service will be launched on 3 February and offers a guaranteed clear of an End User Access fault within 40 clock hours of it being reported to them. This should enable Service Providers to offer 48-hour fault clearance to end users. |
6.3 Million Europeans Have Broadband
By:mark.j @ 9:50:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Following on from Forrester Research, which recently reported that 6 Million Western Europeans had broadband, today new research from Strategy Analytics has found similar results.
The groups latest study revealed that 7.5% of Western European households now subscribe to a broadband Internet service, which equates to 6.3 Million!:
The research reveals that a growing number of customers chose ADSL providers in preference to cable: ADSL increased its share of new customer acquisitions from 72.3 per cent in 2001 to 76.1 per cent in 2002, while cable’s share fell from 26.0 per cent to 22.6 per cent.
Strategy Analytics predicts that a further 7.2mn European homes will acquire broadband for the first time during 2003, bringing the total to 19.1mn, or 11.9 per cent of total households.
In contrast to last year, however, cable operators are expected to increase their share of net new subscribers to 25 per cent, while ADSL’s share will fall to 71 per cent. Cable’s improved performance will be dependent upon successful financial restructuring and increased investor confidence.
We'd suspect that the actual figure lies somewhere in between the two (6 vs 6.3 Million), more @ Europemedia. |
BTOpenworlds Broadband-in-a-Box
By:mark.j @ 9:44:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The latest UK ISP to offer its broadband ADSL service to high street stores is BTOpenworld, which joins a growing number of providers now offering a 'boxed' solution:
PICK UP BROADBAND KIT ON THE HIGH STREET FOR £50.00
High street shoppers can now buy BT Openworld broadband 'off-the-shelf' at selected shops across the UK. The ISP is trialling its popular Home 500 Plug & Go product in a 'broadband-in-a-box' format, which can be bought for just £50.00, for a limited period.
Customers can buy 'BT Openworld Broadband - Complete Plug & Go Pack For Home' in-store and be connected to the internet in a matter of days. Once their phone line has been broadband-activated, customers simply need to plug in the equipment provided to get online.
BT Openworld's broadband-in-a-box is available from selected Toys 'R' Us, Maplin Electronics and Procom stores, on a trial basis from February 3 until March 31, 2003.
Duncan Ingram, managing director at BT Openworld said: "We're always looking for new ways to make it easier for people to experience the benefits of broadband. Now, in addition to ordering by phone or via our website, customers can simply go into one of our trial retail partners' stores, and pick it up immediately - at a very attractive price.
We believe providing broadband in a box on the high street could be a great way of bringing the product to customers - we're making it tangible, so that consumers can see it, touch it and take it."
Mike Coogan, marketing director at Toys 'R' Us said: "The internet has dramatically changed the way that families spend their leisure time, and broadband offers exciting possibilities for games, recreation and education. Enabling people to purchase it in our stores should really appeal to our customers, as it will save time, and they can see exactly what they're buying." |
Oftels Latest Home & Work Internet Stats
By:mark.j @ 9:17:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The UK telecoms regulator, Oftel, has today published its latest two reports into the key trends and coverage of residential and business Internet access.
The regulator reports that Internet penetration in UK homes has remained largely stable at 42% for the past 12 months. Likewise the percentage of home computer owners has remained steady at 53%:
Packages and connection methods
4.3 63% of UK homes with Internet access use either a fully or partially unmetered package, these include consumers using cable modem and DSL
4.4 3 in 10 Internet homes use a pay-as-you-go, calls only package and the remaining 7% continue to pay a subscription as well as all calls whilst online. Subscription and calls packages are generally aimed at businesses, hence the low usage amongst residential consumers in comparison to other Internet packages.
4.5 Use of the different packages has remained fairly stable over recent months.
4.6 The fall in use of ordinary phone line/dial up reported last quarter has been sustained – currently used by 80% of homes with Internet access compared to 89% in May ’02.
4.7 According to recent subscriber figures 9% of consumers with Internet access use a broadband connection such as ADSL / cable modem / or other high speed access.
Satisfaction
4.8 Satisfaction levels remain stable with 90% of Internet users claiming to be satisfied with their overall service at home. Satisfaction has remained at around 90% over the last couple of years.
The proportion of SMEs with Internet access has not changed since last wave. Just under 7 in 10 SMEs (67%) have Internet access – 66% of small businesses and 96% of medium. The number of medium sized businesses with Internet access appears to be reaching saturation:
Access methods
4.2 The number of SMEs connecting to the Internet via ordinary phone line dial-up has fallen significantly over recent quarters, however last wave saw a slight reversal of this trend, which has been sustained this quarter. Currently 63% are connecting using this method compared to just over half (55%) in May ’02, however usage remains lower than 12 months ago (73% Nov ‘01).
4.3 Over 1 in 10 (13%) SMEs within our sample claim to access the Internet using a broadband connection, either via DSL or cable modem.
Satisfaction with overall Internet service is apparently significantly lower among businesses at 86%. |
News - February 4,2003
Yahoo! Fails Chat Room Safety Check
By:mark.j @ 2:37:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] One of the world's largest web-based chat service providers, Yahoo!, is being forced to apply UK Government guidelines for the online protection of children after failing a safety test:
The voluntary code, drawn up by government, law enforcers, industry leaders and children's charities is a response to an increased use of the net by paedophiles.
Leading chatroom provider Yahoo has admitted that it has not yet implemented the guidelines and has set no timeframe to do so.
"Currently we are not talking about it but we are looking at the guidelines," a Yahoo spokesperson told BBC News Online |
Broadband Wireless Merges With GSM
By:mark.j @ 1:38:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Mobile phone operators and handset manufacturers already plan to merge broadband wireless hotspots (Wi-Fi) with 3G and GPRS mobile phones; however HP and Juniper Networks now intend to extend this to GSM (2G):
Wi-Fi hot spots are springing up around the country but to date have been awkward to use because the hot spots are mostly independent and operate separately from wireless mobile networks. Mobile phone operators are hoping to cash in on Wi-Fi's expected surge in popularity (analyst firm Gartner Dataquest predicts that 50 million people will be using hot spots by 2006).
HP's partner is Transat, a start-up making telco-grade hot-spot software. "Users will get voice and data services from a single provider," said Maurice Marks, chief technology officer at HP's service provider division. "They will get the ability to use extra bandwidth when they reach a hot spot."
For service providers, the benefit is the ability to get these hot spots up and running quickly, and integrated into their existing billing systems. "GSM and 3G operators can offer data services whether the customer is inside the hot spot or outside," said Marks.
It's a clever idea, although we'll reserve our judgement until these technologies actually arrive. More @ ZDNet. |
SurfControl Profits From Others Misery
By:mark.j @ 1:28:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Speaking of junk e-mail, SurfControl, another company involved in the development and supply of anti-spam and virus solutions, has seen a strong surge in profits:
The firm boosted second-quarter revenues by 41% compared with last year, having generated $18.7m in sales during the three month period to 31 December 2002.
Its EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) more than trebled to $3.1m against the $800,000 generated in the same period last year, with sequential quarterly growth at 72%.
SurfControl, which was established four years ago, has benefited more than most amid a rising tide of spam and viruses. A survey the firm conducted during the quarter found that one in four emails received in US inboxes could be classified as spam.
More @ netimperative.info . |
When SPAM Filtering Goes Bad
By:mark.j @ 1:23:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Here's a prime example of just where SPAM (junk e-mail) filtering systems can fall flat on their faces.
Apparently the new filtering system at the House of Commons has hampered a ministerial debate over the Sexual Offences Bill because it keeps removing legitimate messages =):
The system was introduced last month after MPs complained about getting inundated with pornographic and rude e-mails. More than 900 e-mails were blocked in its first week, and the new system is now proving too restrictive and causing "chaos", according to one MP.
Lib Dem spokesman Paul Tyler says the system is now blocking parts of the Sexual Offences Bill being sent to parliamentary e-mail addresses. It also blocked a Liberal Democrat consultation paper on Censorship.
Mr Tyler said: "At a time when the government is trying to be transparent and Parliament is insisting on robust Freedom of Information legislation, this level of interference is totally over the top. Blocking filth is one thing, gagging political debate is another."
We know it's wrong to laugh about such things, but we just can't help it =). Quite why the MPs associated e-mail addresses and domains weren’t excluded from the filtering we don't know. More @ BBC News Online. |
MPs Propose Safer Snooping Method
By:mark.j @ 10:05:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] MPs opposed to the current governments stance on Internet snooping and whom form part of the All-party Parliamentary Internet Group (APIG) yesterday proposed a new REGULATED method for snooping:
MPs say the only solution is legislation to ring-fence access to communications data so it can only be accessed by public authorities through the use of RIPA Part I Chapter II "and hence use of other legislation would be ineffective." This legislation would "prevent agencies from deliberately avoiding RIPA controls" by accessing communications data through a statutory gateway.
"We endorse the recommendation from (the UK ISP Association) that a memorandum of understanding be developed whereby those public authorities who currently access communications data would renounce use of their legacy powers," said APIG in its report. "We recommend that the Home Office bring forward legislation to prevent agencies from deliberately avoiding RIPA controls by accessing communications data through a statutory gateway."
The MPs also called for explicit criminal penalties in RIPA for those who use section data access notices without proper authorisation "or who deliberately abuse the system to obtain information to which they are not entitled."
While this doesn't solve everything, we do agree that making sure somebody is always there to watch the watchers is very important. More @ ZDNet. |
Vizzavi E-Mail Service To Close
By:mark.j @ 9:53:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Vizzavi, the vodafone backed portal that recently dropped out of the UK ISP market, is to place the final nail in its coffin with the demise of e-mail services; effective from 31st March 2003:
Vodafone UK is punting the alternative of Vodafone Mail, which is a Vodafone customer only service intended to provide "a single point of access for all your messages: voice, personal e-mail and fax."
Before Vodafone and SFR's Big Adventure Vodafone ran its own email system at vodafone.net, which is now where you sign up for Vodafone Mail. But when they got portalitis all of the Vodafone users had to change their email addresses from, say, suffering.punters@vodafone.net to suffering.punters@vizzavi.net. Presumably once you've registered yet again your email address will be suffering.punters@vodafone.net once more.
Not that Vodafone is exactly going for the hard sell. Along with references to the company's privacy policy (which we recall as being one of the world's more bracing such efforts) the Ts & Cs assure you: "If you successfully register for this Service, your existing voicemail messages, greetings and security codes will be lost."
That’s nice? It’s almost as if the customers had a choice, almost. More @ The Register. |
Januarys Top 10 Fastest ADSL ISPs
By:mark.j @ 9:44:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] ADSLGuide reports that the fastest broadband ADSL ISPs for January came in as follows, with Nildram leading the pack:
1. Nildram 433Kbps (Downstream)
2. Eclipse Internet 429Kbps
3. Zen Internet 425Kbps
4. PIPEX Internet Limited 419Kbps
5. Freedom 2 Surf PLC 418Kbps
6. PlusNet 417Kbps
7. Tiscali 414Kbps
8. Boltblue broadband 414Kbps
9. Clara.net 414Kbps
10. AOL 411Kbps |
News - February 3,2003
Online Cyber Attacks Drop During 2002
By:mark.j @ 3:16:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Symantec's new Internet Threat Report has found that the number of online cyber attacks decreased by 6% during the second half of 2002, yet vulnerabilities increased:
The report found that damage caused by recent blended threats, such as Opaserv, was less than that caused by older threats, such as Code Red.
Symantec reports that although cyber attacks decreased the number of vulnerabilities shot up. It documented 2,524 new vulnerabilities in 2002, up 81.5 per cent from 2001.
85% of all the attacks reported to Symantec were classed as pre-attack reconnaissance, while the remaining 15% were put down to various exploitation attempts. Symantec didn't try to analyse the motives of attackers, so whether these assaults are down to the usual s'kiddie activity or more pernicious forces at play is hard to say.
More @ The Register. |
BTs Innovative New ADSL Scheme
By:mark.j @ 2:53:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] ADSLGuide reports that BTWholesale has launched yet another new scheme to promote broadband ADSL uptake and coverage, however this one is actually quite innovative.
Exchange Activate, as it's called, could potentially help to see exchanges enabled in areas where such a thing wouldn't normally happen for several years!:
The new scheme revolves around a Service Provider buying a block of 30 connections for a 3 year period. The intention is that sponsors such as a Regional Development Agency, or local councils meet some of the costs.
The scheme is very much at the consultation stage, with Service Providers been able to provide feedback to BT Wholesale, as to whether they think the pricing and level of interest would make the scheme worthwhile. The pricing indicated at this time is ~£55,000 for 30 connections lasting 3 years, or around £46 per user per month. Obviously this price is higher than the usual connection fee, hence the idea that partnerships are formed to reduce the cost to the end-users in the areas where the system is deployed.
The actual ADSL as far as an end user is concerned is BT IPstream Home 500, and after the 3 years is up, the cost reverts to whatever the standard monthly Home 500 fee is (currently £14.75). An exchange can have multiple blocks of 30 users. If an exchange reaches its actual trigger level for a standard ADSL build, then a 'buy out' scheme exists that will reimburse some of the charges to the Service Provider, based on how long the service has been running.
The above concept is based on BTs existing 16 user DSLAM trials and a decision about whether to proceed with the project or not will be taken sometime during March 2003.
It's early days yet and we'll have to see how ISPs and local councils etc. react to the idea, although we’d certainly like to see it taken up. |
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