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IOL discontinues No Limits package 
Friday, March 23 2001
by Kevin O' Brady


IOL has discontinued its Surf No Limits Internet access package, due to concerns
over the per minute billing the company receives from Eircom.





Existing No Limits customers are expected to remain unaffected by the
discontinuation, however no new customers will be accepted, according to the
company.

The Surf No Limits package offers unlimited off-peak Internet access for a flat
rate fee. It also includes free Internet registration, a free CD-ROM and Internet
software, free unlimited e-mail addresses and free 10 megabits of Internet space.


IOL (Ireland on Line) currently has 20,000 existing No Limits customers,
according to Andrew Conlan-Trant, director of marketing and product for
EsatFusion. 

"IOL needs to review the package," said Conlan-Trant. "We are charged on a
per-minute basis by Eircom for use of their lines, with the result that the
commercial viability of the No Limits package has come into question." 

IOL has been actively pressing Eircom and the Office of the Director of
Telecommunications Regulations (ODTR) for a FRIACO (flat rate Internet access
call originating) wholesale package, said Conlan-Trant. 

A wholesale package from Eircom would allow IOL to offer lower retail charges for
Internet access, he explained. Other markets such as the UK already have
wholesale packages, but there is none in this country, he said. 

"The review will not necessarily result in more expensive Internet access," he
said. IOL does not expect any other Internet access provider to introduce
flat-rate access during the review. 

"It is a shame for the Irish consumer that we have had to conduct this review,"
he said. "However, it is not the demise of flat-rate Internet access in this
country." 

Eircom has told the Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation
(ODTR) that it is prepared to offer other operators access to its local loop
copper network for a monthly fee of less than EUR25, according to a report in the
Irish Times. However, this is still more than the price of between EUR12 and
EUR17 sought by the ODTR. 

Meanwhile, the ODTR insists that it has facilitated flat rate Internet access in
this country. "Esat should be asking Eircom for a wholesale package", said a
spokesperson for the ODTR. 

"We have not been requested to intervene," the spokesperson added. 

IOL is at www.iol.ie