Tuesday, May 2nd 2000
Caymanian Compass
New Internet Deals >From Cable & Wireless
Cable & Wireless has reshuffled its Internet access pricing structure giving customers "double the amount of hours at the same cost."
C&W General Manager Mr. Tim Adam said yesterday (Monday): "The new pricing structure will especially benefit high volume dial-up customers with the Net Pro package which offers significant savings to the high usage Internet customer."
Effective from 1 June, new pricing categories include the Net Starter, which gives 10 hours for $17 a month. The Net Surfer will be 20 hours for $27 a month and the Net Master with 30 hours for $36 a month.
The new Net Pro category gives 50 hours for $50 per month.
None of these categories includes the megabyte charge.Ê Cable & Wireless removed the volume based billing for dial-up customers in April.
"Competitive"
Speaking at a press conference yesterday morning, Mr. Adam claimed that Cayman's Internet services are "lower than those in several other countries".
He said, "Our rates are actually now coming to be very competitive."
When asked why Internet rates in Cayman could not be within sight of US prices - similar to water, electricity, and utilities - Mr. Adam said: "A lot of that has to do with what internet access entails.
"Internet access for local distribution would certainly be a less expensive proposition for any provider to arrange than access through the World Wide Web."
"In Cayman we are having to find ways to get from here through several thousand miles to connect to the backbone of the World Wide Web."
When asked if Cable & Wireless would consider free Internet access and generate profit through advertising Mr. Adam said it was a consideration.
"It's an interesting modal and it's unfair to say we wouldn't consider it."
"It's a business model that certainly is being explored.Ê That model may be something that may better apply where there is a market for huge advertising revenues in order to support the service.
"It's one of the things we are looking at but we need to evolve a much more sophisticated level than what there is now.
"But we will explore any of the models or the options that would make sense of the situation.
"One of the things that Cable & Wireless does when we go to any country, island or particular community is to conduct our business in the manner that is appropriate to that situation and that varies."
"We don't necessarily imitate everything
in the United States or Europe," he added.