ISP: 0867 faults stifling national expansion

By MICHAEL FOREMAN

North Shore-based internet service provider Web InterNet has claimed that continuing problems with Telecom's 0867 service are stifling its attempts to provide a nationwide service.

Web InterNet managing director David Gottschalk said since his company switched from a Clear Communications service to Telecom's mandated 0867 access, his customers have experienced "almost daily" disruption of service lasting between 10 minutes and eight hours.

"In every case, Web InterNet's entire nationwide network has ground to a halt," said Mr Gottschalk.

"Rather than spreading the network throughout New Zealand as promised, Telecom has concentrated access for all our clients into a single, heavily loaded exchange in Auckland. Thus, unlike Xtra, we have a single point of failure."

Mr Gottschalk said his company had been "forced to abandon a reliable Clear service" and use Telecom's nationwide IPNet network last October to be able to continue to service its customers outside Auckland.

Telecom spokesman Glen Sowry admitted that at a meeting between Telecom and Web InterNet earlier this week, Telecom "discovered some software faults within the system that we are currently working to rectify." However he described the suggestion that Web InterNet receives different connection speeds to Telecom Xtra using IPNet as "unlikely."