Driven by a need for speed, subscribers are switching to satellite for faster Internet downloads. This is the view of World Online, a Tiscali S.p.A company, which recently entered into partnership with InfoSat to provide subscribers with affordable satellite Internet services.
According to World Online, close to 1 000 subscribers have moved to satellite Internet to experience faster downloads, browsing and receiving of e-mail and predicts this figure will more than double within the next six months.
Says World Online manager B2B and E-Commerce, Odette Meredith. "At a fixed monthly subscription of R299 users can experience Internet at breakneck speed. Subscribers receive a free satellite receiver card worth R2000. A dish or a dish upgrade can be sourced through a country-wide network of approved installers.
In addition, World Online will provide one eMail address with four aliases, 10Mb of personal web space, unlimited downloads with no charge per megabyte and unlimited Internet access at high speeds.
"Subscribers are able to use a local 0860 number to connect to the local point of presence (POP), reducing call charges. Dial-up is done through a normal telephone line and information downloaded via a satellite downlink. This improves bandwidth availability, resulting in faster downloads for all subscribers," explains Meredith.
"Other ISPs offering similar satellite connectivity packages tend to charge an additional cost for the download of data, which can add significantly to the monthly costs," she adds.
Current World Online, Yebo, Icon and Global Internet subscribers can easily upgrade to satellite while keeping their existing log-in id`s, passwords and eMail addresses.
InfoSat MD Eduard du Plessis says the strong uptake of World Online Satellite Services is a result of increased demand for faster downloads of graphical web site content, file transfers and eMail.
"Satellite Internet offers more than just a fast connection. It also caters for a wide range of value-added services not possible through normal dial-up including data broadcasting, video and audio streaming and distance learning," he comments.
Further information on World Online Satellite Internet Services can be obtained from www.satellite.worldonline.co.za or call 0800 00 5656.
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World Online
"World Online International, acquired by Tiscali S.p.A. in December 2000 (Nuovo Mercato: TIS), is part of one of the largest and fastest-growing Internet network companies in Europe, and, in conjunction with Tiscali, provides access, content, applications and services to 6.8 million registered subscribers as of September 30, 2000. With local operations in 15 countries, the Company has the largest geographical footprint of any European Internet provider.
World Online was officially listed on Euronext (formerly the stock exchange of Amsterdam Exchanges) on March 17th, 2000. On November 7th 2000, Tiscali launched an offer to combine the two companies that was accepted by shareholders representing 96.1% of World Online`s outstanding share capital on December 6th 2000. Tiscali honored its offer on December 7th 2000, creating the leading pan-European Internet network company.
WOL`s corporate website: www.worldonline.com
Tiscali`s corporate website: www.tiscali.com