Eircom announce 512K DSL @55 euros

SkepticOne · 23-01-2003 1:29pm #1

Eircom's press release:

eircom to halve cost of broadband DSL access
New mass market low cost product available from March 2003

Issued Thursday 23 January 2003: eircom today announced plans to introduce a new mass market low cost broadband DSL service from March 2003. The new low cost product will operate at speeds up to 512 kilobits per second and will be available in self install or eircom install versions. eircom said it would introduce the new product at a target retail price of �45 per month (excluding VAT) subject to regulatory approval. eircom has notified ComReg of its plans and will now focus on finalising the full price detail including pricing of the wholesale bit-stream equivalent. Consultation will now take place with ComReg and the industry to introduce the new low cost product at the earliest possible date, with a target of March 2003 at the latest.
In April 2002 eircom launched its �125 million rollout of broadband DSL. To-date a total of 700,000 telephone lines have been DSL enabled and this figure will increase to one million by December 2003.
Commenting on the announcement, Phil Nolan, Chief Executive eircom said:
�Today�s development, coupled with our significant investment in deployment of DSL technology will provide a major impetus to broadband in Ireland. Our new self-install product is competitively priced and compares very favourably with countries throughout the EU. We recognise the importance of broadband to the Irish economy and we are very pleased to demonstrate our commitment in leading the drive for broadband through today�s announcement. Our roll-out plan will extend to one million lines nationwide by the end of this year and will include all of the towns included in the government�s national spatial strategy. We will deliver a wholesale offering to competing telecommunications operators, including our own retail business, to provide the new self-install DSL service to their customers�.
eircom's DSL roll-out currently extends to 70 telephone exchanges and this will increase to approximately 110 exchanges by December 2003.
This will equate to one million telephone lines covering the greater Dublin commuter area, provincial cities and large provincial towns. It will also cover all towns included in the government�s national spatial strategy. By September 2004 the roll-out will extend to approximately 150 exchanges covering towns throughout Ireland with more than 2000 telephone lines.
eircom i-stream DSL increases the speed of internet access by up to 30 times, bringing high bandwidth to customers over ordinary copper telephone lines. It is a service that is always on and connected, eliminating the need to dial up for access and connect and disconnect from the internet. Customers can also access the internet and use the telephone simultaneously using the same telephone line. To avail of eircom i-stream DSL, customers must have a standard fixed telephone line, exchange coverage, and computer equipment that reaches the minimum required specification.
- Ends -
Issued by:
Nuala Buttner
Press Officer
eircom
Tel: 01 701 5554
Mobile: 087 235 2165
E-mail: nbuttner@eircom.ie

For further information contact:
Gerry O�Sullivan
Director, Corporate Relations
eircom
Tel: 01 701 5632
Mobile: 087 259 7644
E-mail: gosullivan@eircom.ie

Notes to Editor:
eircom�s new mass market DSL broadband product, is �rate adaptive�, i.e. offering speeds up to a maximum of 512k/128k and a minimum of 256k/64k. However the majority of customers who avail of the new product can expect to get the 512k/128k speed. A monthly download limit of 4 gigabytes also applies.

Tw · 23-01-2003 1:30pm

Anyone listening to news@1? minister is talking about eircom announcement.

pete · 23-01-2003 1:33pm

Wow.

33% cap increase.

cry

Dustaz · 23-01-2003 1:34pm

Originally posted by SkepticOne

Notes to Editor:
eircom�s new mass market DSL broadband product, is �rate adaptive�, i.e. offering speeds up to a maximum of 512k/128k and a minimum of 256k/64k. However the majority of customers who avail of the new product can expect to get the 512k/128k speed. A monthly download limit of 4 gigabytes also applies.

RADSL????!!!!

Theres hope for a LOT of people who failed the test if thats true.

The pricing seems to be quite waffley, anyone know The Bottom Line?

amen · 23-01-2003 1:34pm

only 110 exchanges ?
I though there were several hundred in ireland

what all of us in the west
we want broadband as well

there a lot of smaller towns in the west near big cities that have high concentrations if IT workers but we are all stuck on crappy 56k for ever and ever

Tazz T · 23-01-2003 1:35pm

Nooooooooooooooooooooooo. They imposed the cap.

kamobe · 23-01-2003 1:35pm

So they are releasing the wholesale product first, and reckon we'll have the retail version by March/April. That gives UTV/Esat/Whoever plenty of time to have their own products sorted

No mention of the wholesale price there though.

pete · 23-01-2003 1:36pm

Originally posted by Tazz T
Nooooooooooooooooooooooo. They imposed the cap.

You sound surprised.

crawler · 23-01-2003 1:37pm

is it RADSL , is it , is it - it must be? Install costs? etc etc......feed me facts please! I hate the eircom Media machine!!

The Cigarette Smoking Man · 23-01-2003 1:38pm

Originally posted by SkepticOne
A monthly download limit of 4 gigabytes also applies.

I hope there will be a corresponding increase in the cap on all of the existing i-stream connections.

De Rebel · 23-01-2003 1:38pm

Originally posted by pete
Doesn't that contradict the recent post here that said that there were no plans to enable any more exhchanges this year?

In any event, DSL is already available in my exchange (Blanchardstown). Unfortunately my house is too far away from it and I've failed the line test. An eircom engineer told me that there's another DSL-enabled exchange in Damastown industrial estate (sometimes called Clonee exchange), which is actually nearer to me than Blanch, but I think that's just for the industrial estate itself.

What i'm saying is that for me and the thousands upon thousands of people who've bought houses out here, it looks like no amount of cost cutting or waiting for up to 20 months is going to get us DSL.

Doing my besst to take on board spirit of optimisim which Dustaz is wearing today, there may be hope for you:

Eircom recently did a comprehensive review of its future strategy in relation to network services. In the DSL area, it has beeen decided to focus on two products, ADSL and SHDSL, to the exclusion of all other possibilities. Expect a SHDSL service in the mid term. (This will require updrading/replacement of the existing DSLAMS.) This will offer connectivity to double, possibly 3 times the current distaance from the exchange, depending on the max speed required. It is likely that 512K will be offered to about 5km and 256 to about 6km subject to the quality of your copper and a line test. The downside is that it will be branded differently to i-stream, which is marketing speak for higher prices.

Andor · 23-01-2003 1:40pm

"Eircom will not upgrade 950 exchanges, thats 87% of all the exchanges in Ireland before September 2004 at the earliest"

Phew, for second there i thought Eircom were making an effort.
what a relief.

pete · 23-01-2003 1:40pm

Originally posted by De Rebel
It is likely that 512K will be offered to about 5km and 256 to about 6km subject to the quality of your copper and a line test. The downside is that it will be branded differently to i-stream, which is marketing speak for higher prices.

Doesn't that tally with what's been announced today? RADSL; 256 to 512 speed; branded differently?

Dustaz · 23-01-2003 1:41pm

4gb cap is better than a 3gb cap and judging by current standards they arent very anal about how they charge for it.

I was just onto a very pleasant woman (refraining from the b word here, she was so nice) who couldnt really expand on the press release but confirmed that the target retail would be €45 EX vat. so thats about €54 ?

pete · 23-01-2003 1:42pm

OT i know, but isn't quoting ex-vat prices for consumer products illegal?

Tellox · 23-01-2003 1:43pm

great news... hopefully if this does go through, esatBT will lower their prices/increase their cap/speed on their residential product..

De Rebel · 23-01-2003 1:45pm

Originally posted by pete
Doesn't that tally with what's been announced today? RADSL; 256 to 512 speed; branded differently?

The SHDSL product will be a premium product - the main focus will be on the higher speeds it can offer.

SkepticOne · 23-01-2003 1:45pm

Originally posted by Tazz T
Nooooooooooooooooooooooo. They imposed the cap.

Wait for the bitstream resellers. The wholesale bitstream service will not have a cap. It is up to the ISP to impose a cap or not.

Ardmore · 23-01-2003 1:46pm

Originally posted by SkepticOne
Eircom's press release:
.....
introduce the new product at a target retail price of €45 per month (excluding VAT)

Acck!!! Right, who do I _formally_ complain to about quoting Retail prices "ex-VAT". Is there an ombudsman for this sort of thing?

Tazz T · 23-01-2003 1:48pm

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but RADSL works on the theory that the signal/speed deteriorates the further away you are from the exchange and is affected by the quality of the copper wire. The upside is the catchment area is increased, the downside is a higher contention ratio.

But isn't the upper speed threshold quoted by eircom the lowest RADSL runs at. I read that it ran at much faster speeds.

SkepticOne · 23-01-2003 1:50pm

Originally posted by Ardmore
Acck!!! Right, who do I _formally_ complain to about quoting Retail prices "ex-VAT". Is there an ombudsman for this sort of thing?

Director of Consumer Affairs is the nearest I can think of. Don't know how useful they would be in this case.

pete · 23-01-2003 1:50pm

Originally posted by Ardmore
Acck!!! Right, who do I _formally_ complain to about quoting Retail prices "ex-VAT". Is there an ombudsman for this sort of thing?

Ahhh it's not an advert, it's not for sale in a shop, but (from www.odca.ie) :

Goods are on sale in a shop and the prices displayed are not inclusive of VAT ?

Under the Prices and Charges (Tax Inclusive Statement) Order, 1973 all prices, either displayed or quoted, should be tax inclusive.

However, in certain shops, such as machinery Hire Shops, it may not be a breach of the Act to show tax-exclusive prices. This is because such shops are not exclusively aimed at consumers (i.e. they also deal with sales to particular trades).

SkepticOne · 23-01-2003 1:53pm

Originally posted by Tazz T
Someone correct me if I'm wrong but RADSL works on the theory that the signal/speed deteriorates the further away you are from the exchange and is affected by the quality of the copper wire. The upside is the catchment area is increased, the downside is a higher contention ratio.

I don't think Eircom are correct in this press release. They seem to be implying that the the system will adapt to different rates (e.g. during peak times the rate will fall). This would be the case with any form of contended DSL.

De Rebel · 23-01-2003 1:53pm

Originally posted by Tazz T
Someone correct me if I'm wrong but RADSL works on the theory that the signal/speed deteriorates the further away you are from the exchange and is affected by the quality of the copper wire. The upside is the catchment area is increased, the downside is a higher contention ratio.

But isn't the upper speed threshold quoted by eircom the lowest RADSL runs at. I read that it ran at much faster speeds.

RADSL isn't really another xDSL, its a varient of ADSL that uses a rate adaptive modem. Think of it being like your 56K modem stepping its way down to 14.4 cause the line is sh1te.

AFAIK most of the xDSL can incorporate RADSL, it simply means that they adapt the speed to suit the line condition.

Meh · 23-01-2003 1:53pm

Originally posted by Ardmore
Acck!!! Right, who do I _formally_ complain to about quoting Retail prices "ex-VAT". Is there an ombudsman for this sort of thing?

http://www.asai.ie/codes_2002/2.html

2.39 Except in advertisements addressed exclusively to the trade, prices quoted should normally include VAT and other taxes, duties or inescapable costs to the consumer. Where applicable, the amounts of any other charges such as those arising from the method of purchase or payment should be stated.

They could get away with it on the grounds a press release isn't an advertisement under the ASAI's definition. However, if you see an ad on TV or in a newspaper quoting €45, you definitel;y have grounds for a complaint.

Ardmore · 23-01-2003 1:56pm

Originally posted by SkepticOne
Eircom's press release:
......

Is this available on the web anywhere? The "About Eircom" page on www.eircom.com says "Sorry This page is currently unavailable" (!!!!) at the moment.

crawler · 23-01-2003 1:57pm

You HAVE to love the press release page on eircom's site

http://www.eircom.ie/cgi-bin/bvsm/bveircom/content/pressRelease.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0783735126.1043330300@@@@&BV_EngineID=dadcgfedmjhkbedcfjgchgcghk.0&fromChannel=About%20Eircom&selectedChannel=About%20Eircom&cid=CarrierServices

Ardmore · 23-01-2003 2:01pm

Originally posted by Meh
http://www.asai.ie/codes_2002/2.html They could get away with it on the grounds a press release isn't an advertisement under the ASAI's definition. However, if you see an ad on TV or in a newspaper quoting €45, you definitel;y have grounds for a complaint.

I know it's only a press release. But they're getting the "free advertising" that comes when the press release is regurgitated in the press.

They don't have to be breaking the law to get a reap on the knuckles from the ODCA. A public statement that this practice is not acceptable would cost them even more bad publicity than the good publicity they get from getting the €45 price lodged in peoples heads.

The Cigarette Smoking Man · 23-01-2003 2:02pm

This is the page for the press releases:

http://mmm.eircom.ie/about/PressReleases/pressrelease.asp

Andor · 23-01-2003 2:03pm

You HAVE to love the press release page on eircom's site

*refresh*
*refresh*
*taps monitor*
*alt + f4*

Ardmore · 23-01-2003 2:07pm

Originally posted by crawler
You HAVE to love the press release page on eircom's site

http://www.eircom.ie/cgi-bin/bvsm/bveircom/content/pressRelease.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0783735126.1043330300@@@@&BV_EngineID=dadcgfedmjhkbedcfjgchgcghk.0&fromChannel=About%20Eircom&selectedChannel=About%20Eircom&cid=CarrierServices

This
http://mmm.eircom.ie/about/PressReleases/pressrelease.asp one doesn't have a session ID.

It also doesn't have a Press Release about a new broadband product. Surprise, surprise - a telecoms company that can't get it's own website act together!

bk · 23-01-2003 2:18pm

This is great news.

I expect that Esat, UTV and Via will sell products based on the bitstream whole sale rate. They will probably sell similar products to Eircom but sligthly cheaper or/and better caps (go on UTV, no cap at all :cool: ).

I expect a massive TV/radio/paper ad campaign from Eircom similar to BT in the UK, plus wide availabilty of self install kits in retail outlets (Xtravision, Phone stores, computer shops, etc.)
I'd say Eircom hope this will be the big present for next Christmas (notice how they expect most exchanges to be upgraded by then).

This way Eircom will probably take most of the mass market, while the other three will offer sligthly better products but with less marketing and therefore sell to the more aware user (e.g. us).

I wonder how the wireless companies, Leap, IBB, etc. will respond to this (they better hurry up with their roll out or get squashed).

SkepticOne · 23-01-2003 2:20pm

Eircom's Press release as it was released to the media.

eircom to halve cost of broadband DSL access

New mass market low cost product available from March 2003

Issued Thursday 23 January 2003: eircom today announced plans to introduce a new mass market low cost broadband DSL service from March 2003. The new low cost product will operate at speeds up to 512 kilobits per second and will be available in self install or eircom install versions. eircom said it would introduce the new product at a target retail price of €45 per month (excluding VAT) subject to regulatory approval. eircom has notified ComReg of its plans and will now focus on finalising the full price detail including pricing of the wholesale bit-stream equivalent. Consultation will now take place with ComReg and the industry to introduce the new low cost product at the earliest possible date, with a target of March 2003 at the latest.

In April 2002 eircom launched its €125 million rollout of broadband DSL. To-date a total of 700,000 telephone lines have been DSL enabled and this figure will increase to one million by December 2003.

Commenting on the announcement, Phil Nolan, Chief Executive eircom said:

“Today’s development, coupled with our significant investment in deployment of DSL technology will provide a major impetus to broadband in Ireland. Our new self-install product is competitively priced and compares very favourably with countries throughout the EU. We recognise the importance of broadband to the Irish economy and we are very pleased to demonstrate our commitment in leading the drive for broadband through today’s announcement. Our roll-out plan will extend to one million lines nationwide by the end of this year and will include all of the towns included in the government’s national spatial strategy. We will deliver a wholesale offering to competing telecommunications operators, including our own retail business, to provide the new self-install DSL service to their customers”.

eircom's DSL roll-out currently extends to 70 telephone exchanges and this will increase to approximately 110 exchanges by December 2003.

This will equate to one million telephone lines covering the greater Dublin commuter area, provincial cities and large provincial towns. It will also cover all towns included in the government’s national spatial strategy. By September 2004 the roll-out will extend to approximately 150 exchanges covering towns throughout Ireland with more than 2000 telephone lines.

eircom i-stream DSL increases the speed of internet access by up to 30 times, bringing high bandwidth to customers over ordinary copper telephone lines. It is a service that is always on and connected, eliminating the need to dial up for access and connect and disconnect from the internet. Customers can also access the internet and use the telephone simultaneously using the same telephone line. To avail of eircom i-stream DSL, customers must have a standard fixed telephone line, exchange coverage, and computer equipment that reaches the minimum required specification.
- Ends -

Issued by:
Nuala Buttner
Press Officer
eircom
Tel: 01 701 5554
Mobile: 087 235 2165
E-mail: nbuttner@eircom.ie

For further information contact:
Gerry O’Sullivan
Director, Corporate Relations
eircom
Tel: 01 701 5632
Mobile: 087 259 7644
E-mail: gosullivan@eircom.ie

Notes to Editor:

eircom’s new mass market DSL broadband product, is ‘rate adaptive’, i.e. offering speeds up to a maximum of 512k/128k and a minimum of 256k/64k. However the majority of customers who avail of the new product can expect to get the 512k/128k speed. A monthly download limit of 4 gigabytes also applies.

SkepticOne · 23-01-2003 2:22pm

Remark: I'm not sure if this is on the web anywhere yet. No doubt it will be on Eircom's site at some point.

Dazzer · 23-01-2003 2:28pm

Still with a bloody cap however :mad: the one thing stopping me from getting ADSL at the moment.

theciscokid · 23-01-2003 2:30pm

we're getting there ppl

slowly but surely

Raskolnikov · 23-01-2003 2:33pm

Originally posted by bk
This is great news.

I expect that Esat, UTV and Via will sell products based on the bitstream whole sale rate. They will probably sell similar products to Eircom but sligthly cheaper or/and better caps (go on UTV, no cap at all :cool: ).

The question is when, i'm prepared to hold out for UTV to get there own version of broadband, not for long though.

theciscokid · 23-01-2003 2:35pm

u said it rasko

Victor · 23-01-2003 2:38pm

Originally posted by Dazzer
Still with a bloody cap however :mad: the one thing stopping me from getting ADSL at the moment.

How reasonable is 4GB/month (=~ 12k/s constant)?

Ardmore · 23-01-2003 2:39pm

Originally posted by Muck
OK I'm not trying to sell you USB chill chill.

Whats your recommendation for an ADSL PPPoE modem with an ethernet port then ?

Dlink or Linksys or SMC or Asus will do but ONLY if ya got them working here in the E-Tub before.

I was on the i-scream trial (it's over a year ago now :-( so I just had the stock modem supplied by Eircom. (The installer arrived with a USB one, and I sent him back out to the van for an Ethernet one :-).

I used it with a D-Link DI-804 (firewall/router with 4 port ethernet hub), and networked 2 other PCs in the house to it.

So I don't have a recommendation for an ADSL modem. There's an interesting looking list of hardware on the UK ADSL site (so most of it should work here).

SkepticOne · 23-01-2003 2:39pm

Originally posted by Raskolnikov
The question is when, i'm prepared to hold out for UTV to get there own version of broadband, not for long though.

Well, Eircom don't have a wholesale product currently agreed with the regulator. Until then, neither UTV nor Eircom can actually launch retail products.

I would hold out for UTV myself.

crawler · 23-01-2003 2:44pm

Exactly Skeptic there is NO PRODUCT YET.

Dont get me wrong - the announcement is good but I want to see a product not a promise.

neverhappen · 23-01-2003 2:45pm

am I just being cynical or is the announcement timed to put pressure on comreg in the wholesale price negotiations. If comreg dont readily agree to eircoms proposed pricing and hold up the launch then its the 'bad comreg wont let us give people cheap dsl' story we had with istream all over again...

theciscokid · 23-01-2003 2:46pm

i hope this €55 month includes line rental ,

whats it at the moment €32 every two months

Dazzer · 23-01-2003 2:49pm

Line rental is 16 Euro for a single line and 32 if you have ISDN or a second line I **THINK**

Raskolnikov · 23-01-2003 2:50pm

Originally posted by SkepticOne
Well, Eircom don't have a wholesale product currently agreed with the regulator. Until then, neither UTV nor Eircom can actually launch retail products.

I would hold out for UTV myself.

Good point, this doesn't mean cheaper broadband yet, we'll have to wait and see what ComReg say. But we can live in hope that a low (relatively) price will be set so people like UTV can offer us something nice.

bk · 23-01-2003 2:51pm

Originally posted by Raskolnikov
The question is when, i'm prepared to hold out for UTV to get there own version of broadband, not for long though.

As SkepticOne said Eircom need to negotiate a whole sale price before even they can release a retail product, therefore I'm sure the other companies will also be ready to launch products around the same time, they won't want to let Eircom build up a lead over them.

It should be more straigth forward for these companies to resell bitstream then it will be to even roll out FRIACO.

dahamsta · 23-01-2003 2:52pm

Speaking of cynical: Am I the only one here concerned that Eircom are announcing details like this before they've even /started/ developing a wholesale product? Isn't this a clear case of monopoly and non-separation abuse?

In other words, it looks to all intents and purposes that Eircom Net has decided a retail price and Eircom Plc will now develop a wholesale product around Eircom Net's requirements. Think about that: It means that either Eircom Plc isn't considering costs appropriately, or that Eircom Net has been party to Eircom Plc's cost structures; both of which are grossly anti-competitive and unfair to the OLO's.

Sorry guys, I hate to put a damper on all the joy here, but we have to consider this objectively.

adam

SkepticOne · 23-01-2003 2:57pm

Originally posted by dahamsta
Speaking of cynical: Am I the only one here concerned that Eircom are announcing details like this before they've even /started/ developing a wholesale product? Isn't this a clear case of monopoly and non-separation abuse?

The danger is that Eircom will try to set a wholesale price too close to the retail price (i.e. margin squeeze). ComReg will then be forced to delay the product. Eircom will then blame ComReg for the delay. Eircom win by keeping everyone on dial-up while ComReg gets the bad press.

KdjaCL · 23-01-2003 2:59pm

Evenin herlad article.

High Speed Internet access for domestic phone users is on the way.
As Telecomes company Eircom ,today launched a superfast broadband. The new DSL technology will be available to home phone users for under €50 excluding VAT.
Dsl will enable PCs to access up to 30 times faster than normal connections.
It also allow users to have an always on internet connection.
Its provision is considered essential to create "an information society for citizens" Eircom current DSL costs €89 including VAT So the new offer is expected to attract a lot of customers.
Eirocm Istream DSL offering has been mainly used by the business sector.
Its believed that Eirocm has enabled some 500,00 phone lines in mainly urban areas to use the DSL technology.
The High cost of DSL technology here means that people are slow to take it up which is a trend thats reflected across the EU.Eircom was accused of dragging its heels in providing the faster cheaper internet access but last night, Telecoms experts was due to announce shortly its wholesale rate for DSL following a recent ultimatum from the regulator ComReg.
Presently a limited DSL broadband service is available from both EsatBT and Eircom.
The introductiion of low cost DSL has been long delayed and demanded in the marketplace.

theciscokid · 23-01-2003 3:00pm

from rte

http://www.onbusiness.ie/2003/0123/broadband.html

The price of high speed access to the Internet is set to fall significantly, following a decision by Eircom to cut its broadband prices in half. But competitors have called the move predatory and anti-competitive.

Eircom currently charges €89 a month for customers to access a broadband service which allows users to access the Internet over 18 times faster than through an ordinary phone line. The charge for this service will be halved to around €45 a month and Eircom hopes to offer it from March.

Competitors such as Esat BT say the move is predatory and anti-competitive as it has not been offered a wholesale rate first, as it must under the terms of Eircom's licence. But Eircom says it has notified the regulator ComReg and is working on a new wholesale price.

Eircom also announced that broadband would be available to any town with over 2,000 telephone lines by September of next year. Ireland currently has one of the lowest rates of broadband usage in the OECD

Eircom announce 512K DSL @55 euros

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