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Pieces of the unmetered puzzle (27 February 2001)

We offer our summary of BT's wholesale unmetered products at the time of writing, which are distinct from the retail unmetered products offered by BT ISPs.

These products are aimed at different markets; only the first two are consumer-oriented, both requiring a separate ISP subscription, whereas the other five are purchased by ISPs or OLOs in combination to provide a retail service.

Unfortunately we cannot present such a summary without a considerable amount of telecommunications jargon - after all, each product is intimately related to the way the United Kingdom telecommunications network works. By far the best jargonbuster is The BT Network by Clive Feather.

Product Introduced Target Covers Cost to ISP/OLO Cost to consumer Number range(s)
BT SurfTime 06/00 end users [1] customer to DLE; ISP charge covers DLE to POP N/A [2] £5.99pcm (offpeak) or £19.99pcm (24/7) plus ISP charge [3] [5] 0844 04
BT SurfTogether 12/00 end users [1] customer to DLE; ISP charge covers DLE to POP N/A [2] £14.99pcm (offpeak) [4] plus ISP charge [5]; intended to supersede BT SurfTime 0844
BT WebPort 02/01 small to medium ISPs DLE to the Internet variable, based on £40-55 per port per month; minimum order 10 ports variable, metered or unmetered depending on number range used [6] 0800
0844
0844 04
0844 09
0845
0911
BT SurfPort 06/00 medium to large ISPs/OLOs IP traffic over the BT Colossus network from DLE to POP variable, based on £25-40 per port per month; minimum order 100 ports variable, metered or unmetered depending on number range used [6] 0800
0844
0845
0870
0911
BT SurfPort 24 [7] 01/01 medium to large ISPs/OLOs IP traffic from customer to nominated POP; can also use BTnet backhaul at negotiated price on top variable, based on £270-480 per port per quarter; minimum order 1500 ports BT Internet Anytime £14.99pcm (from 04/01) 0808 9933
FRIACO 06/00 OLOs customer to DLE £341.92 per 64Kb port per annum [8] Freeserve Time £12.99pcm; BT Internet Anytime £14.99pcm; AOL Flat Rate £14.99pcm 0808 99 [9]
FRIACO Single Tandem [10] 02/01 OLOs customer to tandem layer £507.47 per 64Kb port per annum [8] £15pcm (estimated) 0808 99 [9]

[1] The ISP charge is not included; the user must subscribe to a participating ISP.

[2] The OLO may be required to build out to the DLE.

[3] For example, the BT Internet ISP charge [BT Internet for BT Surf] is £4pcm.

[4] Includes line rental plus some discounts on voice and voice to mobile calls; further discounts (unmetered local voice calls at evenings and weekends) at £19.99pcm.

[5] Billed by the ISP or by BT; in practice no ISP bills.

[6] Billed by the ISP or by BT under BT SurfTime.

[7] Based on FRIACO with a national rollout by 04/01.

[8] Each port supports, ideally, between six and ten users.

[9] Two further digits determine the operator.

[10] This supplants FRIACO Hybrid which was not generally taken up, being partially metered and uneconomic.

Of course, line rental and voice call charges are extra except for, in part, BT SurfTogether.

Our thanks to Sunil Sood and Richard Sliwa for putting together the information here. If you find any mistakes please contact us.

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