| From: | Neil Bothwick |
| Date: | 19 Sep 2000 at 21:35:00 |
| Subject: | Re: ISPs |
Kevin Twyman said,
> Hello Neil,
>> We've discussed it. The problem at the moment is that the situation
>> regarding unmetered access is so fluid that any article would be out
>> of date, possibly even misleading, by the time it's published.
> Yup, I can see what you mean. Is it still the case that BT are dragging
> their heels over providing ISPs with flat-rate access?
In a word, yes. They have systems set up but the way they intend to
implement things is unacceptable to many.
For example, Surftime doesn't simply get you an unmetered number to call
the ISP. The number connects to modem racks at BT which are linked to
the ISP by BT's data network.
This means the ISP has no control over a most critical part of the
customer's connection. What if the modems develop a fault? What if the
software turns out to be incompatible with some customers' modems? The
ISP no longer has the option of dragging their Network Manager out of
bed at 4am to go and kick the modems, or changing the firmware or
settings of the modems to suit customers' needs.
Leaving such a mission critical part of the service to a third party is
bad enough. When the third party has the reputation for handling
problems like BT does, it is unacceptable
Hopefully, FRIACO2 will provide a more acceptable solution.
Neil
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