Cable & Wireless Announces First ‘Flat Rate’ Internet Service

Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) has announced plans to launch the UK’s first ‘flat rate’ internet service. Called Connect, the package, which is due for launch on 1 June, combines internet access and telephone charges. Each subscription also offers five free email addresses and 20Mb of web space.

Connect 12, which is the cheapest package at £5.99 per month, includes 12 hours worth of internet call time (this only includes hours online based on weekend and/or evening use). Connect 35 offers 35 hours worth of internet call time for £14.99 per month, and Connect 75 costs £29.99 per month for 75 hours worth of internet call time.

The Connect packages will be available to all internet users who are connected to Cable & Wireless, BT or other telecoms operators with a 132 dialing-out facility. A 24 hour technical support help line will be available, for a flat rate charge of 50p per call for Cable & Wireless users. Users of BT and other telecoms suppliers will be charged 50p per minute for technical support.

CWC currently offers a £10 a month ‘flat fee’ service which excludes call charges, and the Internet Lite ‘calls-only’ product which has around 100,000 users. The launch of this new service may offer heavier users of the internet a more cost-effective service than the existing local-call rate free ISPs run by, amongst others, Dixons’ Freeserve (see Newsline) and Tesco (see Newsline).

Janet Somerville, consumer marketing director at CWC commented: “These new services are designed to help customers save on the major expense of frequent or heavy internet use – call charges. Cable & Wireless’ new, integrated packages offer a quality, feature-packed service with a call time plan to help subscribers manage the expense of internet use.”

Cable & Wireless Communications: 0171 674 5440….www.CWC.com