Via Net.works Ireland, a Dublin-based internet service provider, has launched the first wholesale DSL service which uses Eircom's product to supply a service.
The new service will compete against Esat BT and Eircom's DSL products and should give the flagging broadband sector a much needed boost.
DSL is a broadband technology which enables companies and residents to access the internet at very high speeds over an ordinary telephone line. Unlike a dial-up internet connection, DSL offers users an "always on" connection.
Via Net.works is supplying a DSL service which offers users a one megabyte download speed for €165 excluding VAT per month. It will also charge a once-off installation fee of €169 excluding VAT, and offer additional internet equipment such as DSL modems.
The DSL service will initially be available only in Dublin, but will be offered nationwide when telecoms exchanges in the regions are enabled for the new service.
Via Net.works service was made available to its existing customers from Monday. It will be offered extensively in January when a marketing campaign kicks off.
The company, which was established in the Republic in 1995, already has about 10,500 corporate internet customers and 4,500 residential customers.
Via Net.works is the first company to successfully conclude a wholesale DSL agreement with Eircom. Under this agreement, it will pay a wholesale fee of €79 per line to Eircom to enable it to offer a product based on Eircom's own one megabyte DSL offering.
