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story category BellSouth Drops Price on Top DSL Tier
BellSouth FastAccess DSL Xtreme 6.0 $4 cheaper
(old news - 11:35AM Monday Dec 18 2006)
tags: dsl · prices · business
BellSouth today announced that they're dropping the price on their premium DSL Internet service by $4 per month. BellSouth FastAccess DSL Xtreme 6.0 (6Mbps) can now be ordered by new customers for $42.95 per month. The telcos have noted that this year has seen a larger number of customers opting for the faster connections. "At the end of the third quarter, more than 30% of the DSL customer base subscribed to 3 or 6 megabit services, almost double the mix this time last year, and our monthly mix of net adds has consistently been above 80% for 3 or 6 megabits all year, reflecting strong and steady migrations from lower speed services," BellSouth CFO Pat Shannon recently observed.

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Forums » BellSouth Drops Price on Top DSL Tier
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Rob
In Deo speramus
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
·Comcast
·AT&T Southeast

Great, but what he fails to mention..

quote:
"At the end of the third quarter, more than 30% of the DSL customer base subscribed to 3 or 6 megabit services, almost double the mix this time last year, and our monthly mix of net adds has consistently been above 80% for 3 or 6 megabits all year, reflecting strong and steady migrations from lower speed services," recently observed BellSouth CFO Pat Shannon.
That's great they lowered the price. What CFO Pat Shannon failed to mention is that while more than 30% subscribe to 3 or 6 megbit services, the other 70% cannot get 3 or 6 megbit services, regardless of the reason why (too far from co, poor quality telephone lines, local dslam/rt not equipped with 3.0+, customers are on IFITL *AHEM*, etc etc).
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Alpine
Premium
join:2000-01-11
Atlanta, GA


edit:
December 18th, @11:19AM

Re: Great, but what he fails to mention..

Wow. People around here really can't just take good news at face value. Always has to come with some sort of complaint or whine. Jeeze.

That's also not true. I know at least three or four people personally that CAN get 3.0+, but just need the 1.5.

Adam

Rob
In Deo speramus
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
·Comcast
·AT&T Southeast

Re: Great, but what he fails to mention..

said by Alpine See Profile :

Wow. People around here really can't just take good news at face value. Always has to come with some sort of complaint or whine. Jeeze.

That's also not true. I know at least three or four people personally that CAN get 3.0+, but just need the 1.5.

Adam
I'm pretty sure I've earned my right to complain.
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morbo
Complete Your Transaction

join:2002-01-22
00000
clubs:

Re: Great, but what he fails to mention..

don't mind one of the resident telco shills.

Alpine
Premium
join:2000-01-11
Atlanta, GA

Re: Great, but what he fails to mention..

*Yawn* Is that the best you can do?

Same tired old garbage directed at the 1% of people on this board who aren't completely biased against the telcos. They couldn't possibly have any valid points because they disagree with you, right?

Please, if you're going to get diarrhea of the mouth, at least come up with something original.

Adam

signmeuptoo
Mike Bloomberg 4 President
Premium
join:2001-11-22
Tardis in TN
clubs:
·EarthLink
·Earthlink Cable Mo..
·Packet8
·AT&T Southeast

Re: Great, but what he fails to mention..

It doesn't matter, if what he said is true, that BS has failed to get over 70% of their customers availability for the top tier, then they DO suck, deal with it.

America is horrendously behind most of the rest of the highly developed world, and there is no damned good excuse for it. In fact, the telcos have been doing everything they can to buy off congress and senators and prevent a fair market. Whenever a county tries to set up its' own service, the telcos come with shooting with all guns blazing with their big time power lawyers and lobbyists.

You have no right to defend the telcos. No, they aren't the epitome of evil, but they are very guilty of plenty of wrong doing to the client base, and NOTHING can distract from that truth. Sometimes pushing for the "shiny side up viewpoint" is just childish when in the face of a realistically pathetic situation.

You are just wrong, Alpine, so spare me your "yawns" and sarcasm.
--
I don't claim to be a genius. Sure, I used to be one of those dorks, but I lost my IQ, so forgive me my occasional addled mistake! At least I admit to my errors, which are frequent, I am old... God save America!

Alpine
Premium
join:2000-01-11
Atlanta, GA

Re: Great, but what he fails to mention..

I have "no right to defend the telcos," huh? I've heard all manner of idiotic things around here over the years, but this might take the cake.

Thanks for the comic relief...

Adam

signmeuptoo
Mike Bloomberg 4 President
Premium
join:2001-11-22
Tardis in TN
clubs:

Re: Great, but what he fails to mention..

If anybody's statements are idiotic, it is your's towards Rob. Insulting proves it.

garagerock
Premium
join:2002-06-14
Louisville, KY
Wow, nice way to ignore the entire issue. Hey, Ford says that the clients with "Tier 1" credit can get 0% financing...does that mean their products are better than the rest of the market? Hardly.

Neyland85

join:2003-02-04
North Augusta, SC
·AT&T Southeast

Not bias against telecos... but am still waiting on my 6.0 service to be avilible... Of course it seems that by the time it is availible, the cable offering will eclipse it.

/shrug

I don't get it. Seems all Bellsouth seems to be able to do is play catch up.

Alpine
Premium
join:2000-01-11
Atlanta, GA

Re: Great, but what he fails to mention..

That I certainly won't disagree with. They've got a significant infrastructure disadvantage against the cable cos, pure and simple. That's why they're always playing catchup

FIOS doesn't have that disadvantage, but even in utopia FIOS is going to take years to get a decent deployment and market share.

This is the biggest reason I support the ATT/BellSouth merger. The two apart, especially BellSouth, are going to have a next-to-impossible time finding the resources to catch-up with cable. This is even more true when DOCSIS 3.0 finally rolls out.

Adam

Neyland85

join:2003-02-04
North Augusta, SC
·AT&T Southeast


edit:
December 18th, @12:53PM

Re: Great, but what he fails to mention..

But didn't Bellsouth put themselves into this situation by not being willing to invest heavily in it's own infrastructure the way cable has done? On top of taking large amounts of tax money to provide a network that still hasn't materialized. Then it seems they want to push TV/Voice/Data over the same network that can't compete with just voice and data. All the while trying to get Congress and the FCC to 'Believe me this time I really mean it' on national franchises and net neutrality. All the while trying to make the claim that we're not like cable companies, we shouldn't be held to their regulation.

Well, IMO if both the cable industry and the telephone industry both offer the same services then they both should be held to the same regulation.

I feel that no town should be able to ask for ridiculous things in their franchising agreements, however, I certainly am not in favor of a national franchise that would allow any company to come in and A) cherry pick and B) add poles or other unsightly 'improvements' where current lines are buried and C). tell local governments what taxes and fees they can charge for local franchises.

I also don't feel that if a local government has a referendum and chooses to build out it's own plant that no company either cable or telephone should be allowed to do anything about it. Especially if those companies aren't willing to offer the services in the first place.

I'm not pro cable or teleco. I've owned both and go to where the best deal that meets my service requirements. I'm rather fluid. The only thing I trust is that the company is out to make money and however they feel they can make it they will. They aren't out for me so I have to be.

I like FIOS. I think it's the correct way for the phone companies to be going in. I like the competition I'm seeing in markets that it's in. I think Verizon has it right and time will prove it so. I don't like the cherry picking though. I understand it, but just don't like it.

The original poster is correct though, Bellsouth is only telling part of the truth. What they're leaving out is they've seen an increase of customers upgrading that have the ability to upgrade. Of their customer base, how many have the ability to from the entry level speed to their top tier?
bogey780

join:2004-03-19
Covington, LA

Re: Great, but what he fails to mention..

'But didn't Bellsouth put themselves into this situation by not being willing to invest heavily in it's own infrastructure the way cable has done?'

BellSouth has more deep fiber then any other major telecom in the US... or so I've been told. BellSouth hasn't deployed their next gen solution yet.
deadzoned
Premium
join:2005-04-13
Baton Rouge, LA
·Cox HSI

said by Alpine See Profile :

That I certainly won't disagree with. They've got a significant infrastructure disadvantage against the cable cos, pure and simple. That's why they're always playing catchup

FIOS doesn't have that disadvantage, but even in utopia FIOS is going to take years to get a decent deployment and market share.

This is the biggest reason I support the ATT/BellSouth merger. The two apart, especially BellSouth, are going to have a next-to-impossible time finding the resources to catch-up with cable. This is even more true when DOCSIS 3.0 finally rolls out.

Adam
Heh, the reason that they are feeling the pinch now is because the Tele-Co's have made a lot of silly decisions based on their current bottom lines rather than thinking of the future and spending money to make money like most successful businesses do.

I have no sympathy for them and I also question whether or not the mergers will have any affect on the future if the do go through. I don't see how merging 2 major phone companies that individually have shown that they are not willing to make good decisions will form one gigantic phone company that will suddenly make all the right decisions and do all the right things.

AT&T has their crappy U-Verse stop gap measure that they are trying to roll out in a limited fashion. Bellsouth has nothing that I can see that they are offering other than their normal DSL stuff.

It's real easy to understand - if you want to be competitive at all in the cable tv market and offer triple play services you have to be willing to spend the money on the proper technology and not waste time, money, and resources on outdated technology that will have to be upgraded almost immediately after you start adding more than a few subscribers to the system. FTTC vs. FTTH...

Heheh, I can't wait to see what they decide to do when they run out of bandwidth!

Verizon is the only company on the Tele-Co side doing it the right way. It's sad really, as the answer is right there to see but the AT&T''s and Bellsouth's of the world refuse to acknowledge it and instead look towards a merger to save them. It's pretty odd thinking.

morbo
Complete Your Transaction

join:2002-01-22
00000
clubs:
·AT&T Southwest

the problem with telcos is that they have failed to properly invest in their infrastructure. as a result, they are gushing blood from various orifices--some would say dying--and it's their own fault. you reap what you sow.

so instead of actually spending money and investing in their future existence, they try the (relatively) cheap tactic of buying politicians. ok. AT&T is also try to roll out some garbage known as uverse, that i am still amazed is being "deployed". Verizon seems to be the only one that wants to survive by biting the bullet and deploying their only hope for a future.

i've said it before, but i also envision a time in the not too near future, where telcos (mainly AT&T), will cry for more corporate welfare to help them build their infrastructure. the american public must resist this plea.

my comment about you being a shill sounds harsh. however, after reading your comments on this board for some time i think it is justified.

Rob
In Deo speramus
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
·Comcast
·AT&T Southeast

Re: Great, but what he fails to mention..

said by morbo See Profile :

i've said it before, but i also envision a time in the not too near future, where telcos (mainly AT&T), will cry for more corporate welfare to help them build their infrastructure. the american public must resist this plea.
I envision a similar thing, however, in mine it goes a little like this:

Public/Gov: Why o why is our broadband so slow? Why are we ranking so low on the broadband list compared to other countries? Why do we have slow and outdated broadband?

AT&T: We tried deploying our [slow as a snail] Uverse service by taking a shortcut and not going FTTH to save us money but the only thing it did was cost us more.

Public/Gov: Well then you better have 100% deployment of FTTH by 2020!

AT&T: We can't afford it. We spent all our money on Uverse and gifts to politicians who are now dead.

Public/Gov: That's not our problem.

AT&T: The hell it isn't! We're a regulated company. blah blah blah, we need more gov funding.

Public/Gov: Ok ok! How much? $100 million? You have to pay it back to us 150 years. Deal?

AT&T: NO DEAL! We want $100 million + the ability to be the ONLY HSI provider in the area. Give us what we want, or we keep America behind. In exhchange, we'll promise to bring FTTH to "selected markets" in 2 years and 100% deployment of "Internet Services" within the next 10(0) years. Further, we'll give a free swimming pool to each county.

Gov: OK Deal!

...

repeat every 50 years.
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YourIP.US - Quickly Locate Your IP!
bmn
? ? ?
Premium,ExMod 2003-06
join:2001-03-15
hiatus
·Packet8
·Cox HSI
·AT&T Southeast

said by Alpine See Profile :

That's also not true. I know at least three or four people personally that CAN get 3.0+, but just need the 1.5.
Actually, what he said about people not being able to get 3.0 or 6.0 is very true, get your facts straight before you try to shoot someone else down. If you had bothered to check the Bellsouth forum, you could find plenty of people who have only 1.5 service from Bellsouth and can't upgrade because of loop length and fibre in their loop.

The fact that you know people who didn't opt for 3.0 or 6.0 doesn't change the fact that there are people that can't get 3.0 or 6.0 for many, any reasons...

Please, if you're going to get diarrhea of the mouth, at least come up with something original.
Take you own advice...
--
Prove it...

Alpine
Premium
join:2000-01-11
Atlanta, GA

Re: Great, but what he fails to mention..

No, no. He quoted the BellSouth guy saying that 30% of their customers are on 3.0+. Then he said that all of the other 70% of people aren't on 3.0+ because they can't get it. That implies that every single person that CAN get 3.0+ actually HAS 3.0+ and that everyone who DOESN'T have 3.0+ CAN'T get it.

Obviously not true. There are plenty of people on "Lite" and 1.5 that could get 3.0+. If there are people that can get the faster tier but decide not to (which there clearly are,) then his statement is clearly false.

Too much logic for you? Time to lay off the absinthe?

Adam
bmn
? ? ?
Premium,ExMod 2003-06
join:2001-03-15
hiatus
·Packet8
·Cox HSI
·AT&T Southeast

Re: Great, but what he fails to mention..

said by Alpine See Profile :

No, no. He quoted the BellSouth guy saying that 30% of their customers are on 3.0+. Then he said that all of the other 70% of people aren't on 3.0+ because they can't get it. That implies that every single person that CAN get 3.0+ actually HAS 3.0+ and that everyone who DOESN'T have 3.0+ CAN'T get it.
Ahh, his creative use of statistics... Well, not statistics, more along the lines of arm-chair mathematics. Well, to his credit, while his mathematics are quite bad, his statement that there are plenty of users who don't qualify still holds plenty of water. As I've said, there are many a user out there who can't get the faster classes of service from Bellsouth. The entire neighborhood that I reside in is too far from the CO for anything faster than 1.5 and Lite.

Obviously not true. There are plenty of people on "Lite" and 1.5 that could get 3.0+. If there are people that can get the faster tier but decide not to (which there clearly are,) then his statement is clearly false.
And your statement is also falsified by the fact that there are people who want to get the faster service but aren't able to because of infrastructure issues...

The statements aren't mutually exclusive of each other. While people may not choose to go with faster speeds, in many cases, subscribers don't have the option to go with those faster speeds.

Supposedly Bellsouth is "working" on that. Users will believe it when they see something come of it.

Too much logic for you? Time to lay off the absinthe?
The reports of absinthe causing people to go nuts are gross exaggerations... And it doesn't cause you to trip or see things...

As for the logic, careful there sonny, you'll be beat.
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Prove it...

woody7
Premium
join:2000-10-13
Torrance, CA
I agree with you but.....A lot of the telco success is on on the backs of taxpayers through easements, tax breaks, government subsidies Chery picking, etc...To want something in return is not asking too much...
--
BlooMe

Mizzat
This space for rent
Premium
join:2003-05-03
Atlanta, GA
I am very posistive it is a lot less than 70% that can't get 3 or 6 meg.
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What has two thumbs and likes to help?

Rob
In Deo speramus
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
·Comcast
·AT&T Southeast

Re: Great, but what he fails to mention..

said by Mizzat See Profile :

I am very posistive it is a lot less than 70% that can't get 3 or 6 meg.
I'm sure it is. What my point is, BellSouth shouldn't flaunt that "30% or more are on 3 or 6 meg" when they knowingly know that a much larger percentage (obviously not 70%, but I use that # to make my point) cannot obtain 3 or 6 meg.

Going based on the ISP Planet's Top 22 U.S. ISPs by Subscriber list (for Q1 '06), let's estimate that BellSouth has (according to that list) 3,100,000 (3.1 Mil) subscribers. 30% of that (3 100 000 x (30%) ) gives me 930,000.

930,000 out of 3.1 mil either have 3.0mb or 6.0mb. That leaves ~2.2 Mil w/o the ability to get 3meg/6meg OR don't want it.

I'm sorry, but 2.2 Mil who have 1.5mb or less is terrible for our day and age. We're entering 2007 for crying out Fiber!

Pitiful that only 30% are on 3.0 or 6.0 meg. And that only 15% may possibily be on 6.0 meg.

BellSouth needs to get with the program.
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Mizzat
This space for rent
Premium
join:2003-05-03
Atlanta, GA
·AT&T Southeast

Re: Great, but what he fails to mention..

said by Rob See Profile :

said by Mizzat See Profile :

I am very posistive it is a lot less than 70% that can't get 3 or 6 meg.
I'm sure it is. What my point is, BellSouth shouldn't flaunt that "30% or more are on 3 or 6 meg" when they knowingly know that a much larger percentage (obviously not 70%, but I use that # to make my point) cannot obtain 3 or 6 meg.

Going based on the ISP Planet's Top 22 U.S. ISPs by Subscriber list (for Q1 '06), let's estimate that BellSouth has (according to that list) 3,100,000 (3.1 Mil) subscribers. 30% of that (3 100 000 x (30%) ) gives me 930,000.

930,000 out of 3.1 mil either have 3.0mb or 6.0mb. That leaves ~2.2 Mil w/o the ability to get 3meg/6meg OR don't want it.

I'm sorry, but 2.2 Mil who have 1.5mb or less is terrible for our day and age. We're entering 2007 for crying out Fiber!

Pitiful that only 30% are on 3.0 or 6.0 meg. And that only 15% may possibily be on 6.0 meg.

BellSouth needs to get with the program.
Yes, but what % of those don't care about speed any only want the least expensive? Most the people on these boards will care about speed but the vast majority on my experience do not really care. What % use it as a back-up product? There are a lot of other factor that would influence that number, so 30% of people want more speed and are willing to pay for it is a great deal. Take those same 1 million customers and lower their bill by $4 and that is $4 million less in revenue. So I am sure they are hoping with the less cost to jump to 6 meg that they will make that revenue up somehow by signing up more customers with a lower price and moving up those that can get the higher tier.
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psitool
Beware ManBearPig
Premium
join:2002-11-28
Albany, Ga

said by Rob See Profile :

quote:
"At the end of the third quarter, more than 30% of the DSL customer base subscribed to 3 or 6 megabit services, almost double the mix this time last year, and our monthly mix of net adds has consistently been above 80% for 3 or 6 megabits all year, reflecting strong and steady migrations from lower speed services," recently observed BellSouth CFO Pat Shannon.
That's great they lowered the price. What CFO Pat Shannon failed to mention is that while more than 30% subscribe to 3 or 6 megbit services, the other 70% cannot get 3 or 6 megbit services, regardless of the reason why (too far from co, poor quality telephone lines, local dslam/rt not equipped with 3.0+, customers are on IFITL *AHEM*, etc etc).
I agree. This is the very reason that I switched to cable (and now get 15mbs). I live in the middle of a large city with remote dslams all around me. One rdslam is only 3 blocks away and at least 6 within a mile from me. They had me connected to the CO Dslam which was over 24k feet and they would do NOTHING to try to move me to a remote.

They could drop the price of their 6mb service to $1 and I wouldn't care.
--
So much time and so little to do. Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it.

rcm

join:2004-02-16
Pulaski, TN

existing customers

I wonder if this price drop also affects existing customers. I'm going to be sure to call and get the new price. I bet if existing customers do not call bellsouth won't change their bill.

Alpine
Premium
join:2000-01-11
Atlanta, GA

Re: existing customers

Yes, I think you had to call the last time they lowered prices.

Adam

fatmanskinny
Premium
join:2004-01-04
Atlanta, GA
·Comcast
·EarthLink

If BellSouth would add one more thing....

I may switch back to them. That is.... discounted pricing for a limited time like Comcast is doing. I have a 6 Meg connection for $19.95 for 6 months. Then it kicks up to $43.
--
The only place where Success comes before Work is in the dictionary.
lew_jean

join:2005-05-13
Marietta, GA

Just a called BS

I just called BS my billing showed $46.95 rate so they droped me to the new rate $42.95,
Cyber2lz

join:2001-11-15
Odessa, FL
·Verizon FIOS
·RoadRunner Cable

Yes, still waiting

Yes, I concur. I'm still waiting for BS to get me their top tier DSL.

Oh wait, the wifey tells me that we have V*'s FiOS. And have had for two years. Oh, and it's only 34.95 for 5 mbps down and 2 mbps up. Ok dear,

Nevermind,
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The Light Pipe is the Right Pipe !!!

rcm

join:2004-02-16
Pulaski, TN

Re: Yes, still waiting

You lucky dog

Fatal Vector

join:2005-11-26

Re: Yes, still waiting

Oh, WOW Man! They dropped their price a whole $4. Coincidentally, I'm sure, to the same price as comcast charges. Only $42.95. Jump right on it, right now.

Told you: They will all just eventually price themselves so close to each other it will not matter who you go with in the end. So much for "competition".

See 7 replies to this post

murfster
Under Siege
Premium
join:2001-03-04
Mcdonough, GA
clubs:
·AT&T Southeast

Top Tier huh?

Hmmm ... what happened the last time the "top tier" was lowered? Seems to me that 6Mbps was just about to be introduced about this time last year.

...hmmm...
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UnitedGamerz
bogey780

join:2004-03-19
Covington, LA

Re: Top Tier huh?

hehe...you know, I never thought of that. It would be cool though. The ADSL1 standard provides only up to 8mb/s downstream if within 1 mile. To go any faster you'd need ADSL2 or ADSL2+. Though BellSouth is using ADSL2+ it still seems unlikely they'd rush to increase speeds.

Though 2007 is the publicly stated year that BellSouth has set for its IPTV roll-out.

john131971

join:2003-05-05
Louisville, KY
·Insight Communicat..


edit:
December 18th, @09:42PM

my bellsouth stuck at 1.5

louisville, ky

I would think it's safe to say only 30%-40% can get anything faster than 1.5, that's the beauty of lite dsl!

can't wait for insight to roll out 10.0
at current pricing levels...

How will bellsouth respond?

"Only one thing worst than the phone co. and that's the cable co"

Your screwed either way!!!

Pashune
Your average, anemic person.
Premium
join:2006-04-14
Gautier, MS
·AT&T Southeast

Re: my bellsouth stuck at 1.5

said by john131971 See Profile :

louisville, ky

I would think it's safe to say only 30%-40% can get anything faster than 1.5, that's the beauty of lite dsl!

can't wait for insight to roll out 10.0
at current pricing levels...

How will bellsouth respond?

"Only one thing worst than the phone co. and that's the cable co"

Your screwed either way!!!
Can't get 3.0 or higher in these parts, either.

KAD Imaging
Sansei Goju-Ryu Karate Do
Premium
join:2002-09-21
Hialeah, FL
·AT&T Southeast

Re: my bellsouth stuck at 1.5

Yeah, my name is cobrakon and I'm in the 70%.

I used to live in an apartment when 1.5 (I got 1280/200) was all BS had. They put 3meg in (I got 2800/315). 6meg was put in right when I was moving. I bought a house 2 miles away that had NO DSL SERVICE!!!!

The community was only 3 years old and one of 8 newish communities in the area. I bitched and my neighbors did too. Months later, my phone goes dead. I call with the WTF? and the tell my upgrades are being done. A few weeks later, I can get 1.5. A month or two later and I get 3.0 but the buck stops there.

NO @$#!&!! 6.0 SERVICE!! :-(
Forums » BellSouth Drops Price on Top DSL Tier

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