Posted: 16th Feb, 2005 By: MarkJ
The UK Internet Forum (UKIF) has begun forming an "ISP co-operative", with the goal of helping to pull smaller providers together for added purchasing power and commercial clout:
So far around 17 ISPs have signed up to the scheme which should help them pool orders for IT hardware and wholesale broadband, earning them better discounts from suppliers.
The United Kingdom Internet Forum (UKIF) is also launching an Enterprise Forum aimed at "helping companies across the UK develop their businesses [while] advancing the growth of broadband in the regions".
Although it's early days, organisers hope that Enterprise Forum will also help smaller ISPs win public sector contracts to supply broadband, even though at the moment they are excluded from bidding.It certainly sounds like a clever idea and one we hope they can pull off. Smaller ISP's get ignored far too often in this market. More @
The Register.