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FRIACO Driving Usage
January 2002
UK demand boosted by flat-rate access
While Britain may be behind on the Euro, the EC believes
that it is leading the way with Internet access - and the key lies with
flat-rate access. Over the past few years, Britain has regularly led the
way in Europe with regard to net-based innovations (and fads), partly
driven by a closer cultural proximity to the US.
One such craze, which ended disastrously for a number
of companies, was the drive for free access during 1999-2000. As the dotcom
bubble expanded, and in the wake of an announcement by Altavista that
it was considering entering the market as a free ISP, a number of companies
jumped on the bandwagon without considering the consequences of what would
happen when too many customers chased too little bandwidth.
Several companies Blamed BT for their problems which,
last year, announced a new access deal that ISPs could take advantage
of. FRIACO (Flat Rate Internet Access Call Origination) would provide
almost unlimited connection for a flat fee. It is estimated that almost
40 per cent of the 10 million UK homes with Internet connection use unmetered
packages, and the EU is encouraging other states to follow suit.
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Unfortunately, British Net access is not all good
news. New broadband networks are planned, by BT (preparing for trials
in Wales) and Alcatel (to provide a high-speed network for the north
of England and Scot-land). At the same time, these networks are
unlikely to be available for up to three years, and in the meantime
BT is considering broadband satellite as an alternative to its ADSL
service. There is an option after all, then, so long as you live
in the Highlands or Northern Ireland, the two areas initially covered
by BTopen-world's satellite service.
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Previous
stories
FRIACO if not Free
Broadband Black Hole
Red Handed
Belated British Broadband
Relevant sites
The ISP Review
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