The UK Office of Telecommunications (Oftel) has published a review
of dial-up narrowband internet access in the UK. It says in its
findings that the UK has a flourishing dial-up internet access
market that offers a wide range of unmetered access services at
competitive prices.
The review of narrowband retail internet access, wholesale call
origination and wholesale internet call termination concludes
that:
- 10 million households have internet access (up from six million
a year ago);
- 35% of households choose some form of unmetered internet access
package; and
- consumers have some concerns about the quality of customer
service they receive and the availability of information to enable
them to chose the right package.
The review also finds that UK prices for dial-up internet access
compare with the best in the world and that the UK is the first
market in Europe to offer consumers competitive unmetered
packages.
Oftel will now consult with the industry and consumer groups
before reaching final decisions on whether action is needed to
promote further competition in either the retail or wholesale
markets.
Commenting on Oftel’s review, Anne Lambert, Oftel’s Director of
operations, said today:
"With a large number of internet service
providers, a wide range of unmetered and pay-as-you-go internet
access products, and prices among the lowest in the world the
review confirms that consumers get a good deal for internet
access.
"However, some concerns have been raised
about the quality of customer service and the availability of
information and the review asks whether the industry should take
further measures to improve these.
"Greater use of unmetered internet access
has implications for the networks in how they carry the large
amounts of traffic that unmetered access generates. The review asks
the industry whether further regulatory measures are needed to
ensure that ISPs get a good deal from their wholesale network
suppliers."
Oftel’s final statement on the dial-up internet access market
will be published towards the end of this year.
