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LocalTel ups the Tempo for Screaming.Net

Beefs up service in response to user criticisms

The telco behind Screaming.Net has responded to growing criticism from users about the quality of its service. In an email to Screamers -- a term of endearment used to describe those who use the service -- LocalTel acknowledged that there have been difficulties connecting to Screaming.Net. The Surrey-based telco also conceded that users have experienced slow data transfer rates at peak times, a point voiced by a number of readers of The Register who have complained about the sluggish service. To combat these problems LocalTel has announced it is upgrading its system to cope with the increased demand. Among the measures… * A faster firewall is due to be installed this week, which LocalTel claims will "improve the connection times that users face when logging in"; * Additional email servers are due to be installed; * A new bank of cache servers is to be installed which LocalTel claims "will dramatically improve the access times to Web sites and commonly downloaded files"; * As more and more users join the service, LocalTel has promised that "extra lines will be added ahead of their connection to ensure that all users obtain trouble free logon"; * Also in line with user connections, the bandwidth available across the system will be increased yet again to further improve performance. If the upgrade works then tens of thousands of Screamers will at least feel as if the frustrations of the last couple of months will have been worth it. What is still difficult to understand is why Screaming.Net is struggling with its technology in the first place. At its launch in April, the smiling faces behind the ISP said they would limit the number of users signing up for the service by staggering the supply of CDs made available to the public. By doing this, they claimed, they wouldn't encounter the problems that had befallen similar rushes to join other services. Still, best laid plans and all of that… ®

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