Topic: ISP's [General]

Fast4.net has launched a new ADSL2+ broadband service giving 24Mbps for under a tenner a month.

The ISP has switched to an entirely unbundled (LLU) network and said that some customers will be able to surf at 22Mbps with an upload speed of 1.3Mbps, though as with all ADSL connections this will decrease the further that you live from the exchange, as well as bad line conditions.

Five levels of service are available starting at £9.98 a month rising to £24.95 for the Pro package.

New customers who switch to Fast4 can also receive one month's free service and although the contract is only a minimum one month there is no exit fee

Government proposals for legislation to tackle illegal downloading are unworkable and should be scrapped in favour of self-regulation claim the Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA).

It says that such laws which have been introduced to govern technology have a poor track record, with the last attempt, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, taking three years to implement.

ISPs were not that happy with the plans either "The plan transfers the cost of copyright enforcement to the private sector, which is not our responsibility as a neutral carrier of traffic" said a BT spokesman while Virgin Media said that "There is a lot of legal peer-to-peer traffic, and sorting legal and illegal content would be difficult,".

Skyuser have reported that many of the free routers given out my Sky to their broadband cusomers may have a security vulnerability.

The threat is fairly remote as a potential attacker would need an advanced knowledge on Linux to be able to decipher the username and password.
The attack would involve using the default WPA passphrase printed on the router and the default SSID to connect via the wireless connection.

Sky have also  asked customers with with Netgear DG834GT routers to change their SSID and passphrase values security settings from the default values to overcome this problem. Customers should never really leave any security settings at their default values and choose custom a SSID with a passphrase with letters and numbers both in upper and lower case.

Usually filtering the internet is seen as a bad thing, but a new ISP is about to launch services in the UK which is doing just this.

Spidermail is launching packages targeted worried parents as it claims that existing broadband packages offer very little protection for children, including those that have parental controls such as AOL.
These all come with content filtering carried out at the ISP end of the connection rather than having to install anything either on the PC or router. To gain access to any websites each user will have to login with details provided by Spidermail. Email is also filtered before it reaches the user.

Packages include an 'up-to 8Mbps' connection with unlimited downloads and if you sign up for a 24-month contract at £25 per month you get a free laptop thrown in as well. The same package is available as a 12 month contract, but no laptop.

If  you don't want an 'unlimited' deal than you can choose 10GB limit for £20 per month with a 12-month contract, falling to £18 per month for a 24-month contract. Or a 2GB monthly download limit for a 12-months at £16 per month which is down to £14.50 per month for a 18-month contract. All packages come with a £20 setup charge.

There could be an extra present underneath your tree this month if you are planning to sign up a new broadband package. Several major ISP providers are offering some exclusive incentives as the year comes to a close. Stephanie Rogers from comparison site Broadband Genie gives us some tips.

Especially for games enthusiasts, AOL are offering customers signing up to their Broadband Wireless Plus package a new Sony Playstation 3. However, in order to take advantage of the deal customers must sign up to the Wireless Plus package for 24 months.
The £19.99 monthly broadband package offers an up to 8Mb connection, a wireless router, AOL Pay as You Go Plan and a 40GB download allowance. For those not in an area that AOL has unbundled there is a £10 monthly addition fee.
It’s important to remember though, that customers are only entitled to keep the PS3 provided the 24-month contract is maintained.

PlusNet broadband is also targeting the gaming market with its Broadband Your Way Pro package, specifically optimised for online gaming. The 8 Mb download service, which priorities all gaming and VoIP traffic (including Ventrilo and TeamSpeak) is offering up a free PS3, Xbox 360 or PC game and wireless router for all sign-ups before 1st February 2008.

If the idea of enhancing your home connectivity sounds like an attractive prospect then you may be interested in the BT Total Broadband package. With speeds of up to 8Mb download, the package comes bundled with a Wireless BT Home Hub and BT Vision digital TV recorder.

BroadbandChoices.co.uk have called on industry regulator Ofcom needs to take action to ensure ISPs give customers correct information when inquiring about changing providers.

But 46 per cent of call centre operators which were called by the comparison site gave incorrect advice when questioned about obtaining a migration authorised code (MAC) concerning moving to a local loop unbundled (LLU) provider.

There are more than three million unbundled telephone lines in the UK and rapidly growing. The process of LLU involves communications providers, such as TalkTalk or Sky, installing their own equipment in telephone exchanges, meaning that they do not have to rely on BT's existing infrastructure.

NewNet have taken the unusual step of asking it's customers what it should do with bandwidth limits.

The ISP has become popular with heavy downloaders due to it's avoiding the use of traffic shaping to control P2P or Bittorrent applications, but it seems that it cannot sustain it's usage allowances for the current prices.

So it's asked customers whether that would rather see smaller allowances or higher prices, customers have until this Thursday (15th) to reply to the email and make their views known.

The Post Office's 'Home Phone' broadband service has now been launched, which also includes line rental and free phone calls on some packages.

Is provided by BT via it's managed services, which allows companies to offer broadband and phone services without the massive outlay which is required for LLU services. Another benefit is that it's available to anyone who is near to a BT exchange...which is about everyone!!

While most ISPs will only take orders if an existing phone line is in place, the Home Phone packages can be ordered with a phone line included, which would save customers £15 compared to ordering direct from BT.

It comes in four flavours with both of the Home Phone products including free evening and weekend calls, telephone line rental and a router, the Standard service having a non-wireless router as opposed to the wireless on the Extra

While both the Extra services are touted as 'unlimited' they are as usual limited by the usual Fair Usage policy, but a strict one at that, as the Post office reserve the right to cut off excessive users and make them liable for any remaining months of their minimum rental period, which is 12 months!

Thinkbroadband have some info on O2's forthcoming broadband service which has first rumoured a year ago now!

It seems the mobile operator, who is owned by the Spanish telco Telefonica, is very close to launching their broadband packages with the date for release of the full details of the deals is expected to 15th October 2007.

As you would expect there will be discounted prices for O2 mobile customers and these are thought to be:-

• Up to 8Mbps: £10 per month
• Up to 16Mbps: £12 per month
• Up to 24Mbps: £15 per month

Although firm details are not available is seems that none of the bundles will incur a usage allowance, but will be subject to a fair use policy (FUP) in line with not other 'unlimited' deals. It's though the deals will include a router, McAfee security and anti-virus software, an free-call support line.

PlusNet have taken ISPA Charity Cup back to Sheffield after a hard fought battle against reigning champions Claranet.

The Cup is a five-a-side football tournament for both ISPA members and non-members with fourteen teams battling it out for the trophy, with all proceeds going to charity. This year’s ISPA event raised just under £4,000 for: The British Liver Trust, advocating on behalf of those suffering from liver disease and funding medical research; Net2work, which teaches vocational IT skills in deprived areas and LOHADA, a small, Tanzanian-led, non-governmental organisation serving young children at risk of going to the streets and disadvantaged elderly people in Tanzania.

Plusnet overcame defending champions Claranet in a thrilling final. After a goalless first five minutes Plusnet found the back of the net and despite Claranet’s best efforts managed to keep their 1-0 advantage winning the match and claiming the title.