The ISP will refund the 500 users, whom it feels were taking
unfair advantage of the unmetered access. They had succeeded in
bypassing the automatic disconnection system operated by the ISP,
and in some cases they had remained connected for 24 hours a
day.
Following the disruption this overuse caused, Breath is now
intending to introduce a subscription system for unmetered access
with costs varying depending on the particular use a consumer
wishes to make of the facility.
The growth of unmetered access is having a strong impact on
dial-up services. ISP Virgin.net has announced that it intends to
transfer its dial-up internet customers to cable operator NTL which
already offers an unmetered facility.
Under the agreement, Virgin will retain the entertainment and
leisure services available on Virgin.net and it will incorporate
them into its Virgin.com site. The arrangement will make NTL the
exclusive internet partner of Virgin in the UK.
