PlusNet unveils 150k DSL service

Tiscali wins wholesale deal

By Tim Richardson, 12th December 2003

Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Backup/Recovery

Sheffield-based ISP PlusNet is offering a cut-price DSL service for the same price as many unmetered dial-up services.

At £14.99 a month, DSL Connect provides download speeds up to 150k and has been just been launched on a trial basis. Orders taken now should be fulfilled early next year.

Unlike some other operators that provide 150k services, nowhere does PlusNet describe DSL Connect as a "broadband" service.

Instead, the 150k service is being marketed as a "natural stepping-stone from unmetered dial access to the even higher speeds offered by Broadband Internet access".

Said PlusNet's commercial director, Marco Potesta: "We believe that DSL Connect will meet what we see as a huge demand for convenient, always-on connectivity at the same price as most other ISP's unmetered dial offerings.

"Internet access at 150kbps offers great value for those primarily using low-bandwidth applications such as web browsing and email. DSL Connect is the logical next step for those still using traditional dial and unmetered access."

A spokesman for PlusNet declined to name the wholesale provider of the service, citing "commercial reasons".

Thankfully, Tiscali wasn't so coy and 'fessed that it was behind the 150k service. Tiscali unveiled its own 150k service in October - which costs £15.99 a month incidentally - adding that it was "absolutely" happy to resell the service to other ISPs. ®