ISP Eclipse Internet has today launched a new range of superfast broadband (Eclipse Home Fibre) packages for residential customers, which uses Fibre-to-the-Cabinet ( FTTC ) technology to deliver download speeds of up to 40Mbps. The top package also comes with a pricey "unlimited" usage allowance.

The move is significant for Eclipse because until recently the ISP had only offered a costly range of business focused FTTC solutions. By contrast the new Home services all start with a base package that costs from just £21.50 inc. VAT per month and rises in price when you select a bigger usage allowance.

Eclipse Home Fibre (Base Package)
* 10GB Monthly Usage
* Unlimited Off-peak Usage (11pm - 9am [Mon – Fri] + all weekend)
* Free Wireless Router (Netgear WNR2000)
* £100 Setup (FREE if you take out a 24 month contract)
* Up to 40Mbps Download speed
* Up to 2Mbps Upload speed (10Mb upgrade costs additional £5.00)
* 12 Month Contract

All packages also come with 10 free sub-domain email addresses and 8 Static IP addresses (unusual for a home service), which suggests that Eclipse is aiming its service more at the home professional and would thus price higher in order to deliver a better quality of service.

Customers who want a bigger peak usage allowance need to add an extra +£3 per month to increase the cap up to 20GB (total price £24.50), then £8 for 50GB (total £29.50), +£15.50 for 100GB (total £37) and the unlimited option is an extra +£37.50 (total £56).


For comparison BT offers its comparable BT-Infinity package with "unlimited" downloads for a standard price of £28 per month (£18 for a 40GB allowance) on an 18 month contract, which includes 10Mbps upload speeds. Meanwhile a similar deal from BT's sibling, PlusNet UK, gives a 40GB allowance for £16.49 or 120GB for £21.49. Both come with free installs / hardware and are more focused towards value instead of quality.