Paradise.net
Encyclopedia
TelstraClear
's Paradise.net is a New Zealand
ISP
offering dial-up and high-speed internet. It is the second largest ISP in New Zealand (combined with TelstraClear's Clearnet, which is now the umbrella brand), and a competitor of Xtra
, an ISP owned by Telecom
.
Paradise was founded in Wellington
in November 1997 by businessman Shane Cole. Initially, dialup service was offered in Wellington only. Paradise quickly became a leading dialup ISP in the Wellington region. Service was expanded to Auckland
and Christchurch
in 1998. A reselling agreement was also entered with Telstra Saturn in 1998, which meant that customers who subscribed to Telstra Saturn's cable telephone and cable TV service could also get Paradise included on their phone bill (either dialup or cable modem service).
Nationwide dialup access was provided in 1999, and Paradise was one of the first ADSL providers in 1999, after Telecom Xtra. The company experienced rapid expansion at this point, and staff numbers increased by a large proportion. The helpdesk began 24 hour service in April 2000.
In 2000, the company was sold to Telstra Saturn, formed after the merger of Telstra
NZ and Saturn
. Most of the staff were retained, and were relocated to Telstra Saturn's new purpose built call centre located near the Stadium
, on Wellington's waterfront. The Paradise brand was absorbed and retained into the new company, and stayed after the purchase of Telstra Saturn by Clear Communications
in December 2001, forming TelstraClear.
TelstraClear decided to merge the Paradise helpdesk with its existing Clearnet helpdesk in Auckland. Most of the Paradise helpdesk staff were made redundant. Some opted for relocation, and the helpdesk was moved from Wellington to Auckland in early 2002. Some servers remained in Wellington however.
Today, Paradise remains a brand inside the TelstraClear umbrella although a secondary one under Clearnet and has surpassed the 100,000 subscriber mark. Only a handful of the existing staff remain, most of them working in the networks side of the company.
In 2009, Telstra Clear ceased accepting new subscriptions to paradise.net, instead preferring new customers to sign up to their other ISP, clear.net.
In 2010, any Paradise accounts that were not on-account (ie, billed directly by Telstra Clear) and were instead paid by credit card, direct debit or automatic payment were terminated, and the affected users offered an on-account plan with Telstra Clear, which required taking landline services with them as well. This means it is no longer possible to have a stand-alone account with Paradise, as landline service with Telstra Clear is a requirement.
TelstraClear
TelstraClear is New Zealand's second-largest telecommunications company and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Telstra Corporation , with around 400,000 customers....
's Paradise.net is a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
ISP
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
offering dial-up and high-speed internet. It is the second largest ISP in New Zealand (combined with TelstraClear's Clearnet, which is now the umbrella brand), and a competitor of Xtra
Xtra (ISP)
Xtra Limited is New Zealand's largest Internet service provider . It was founded in 1996 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Telecom New Zealand. Xtra has provided dial-up Internet access throughout New Zealand since its inception...
, an ISP owned by Telecom
Telecom New Zealand
Telecom New Zealand is a New Zealand-wide communications service provider , providing fixed line telephone services, a mobile network, an internet service provider , a major ICT provider to NZ businesses , and a wholesale network infrastructure provider to other NZ CSPs...
.
Paradise was founded in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
in November 1997 by businessman Shane Cole. Initially, dialup service was offered in Wellington only. Paradise quickly became a leading dialup ISP in the Wellington region. Service was expanded to Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
and Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
in 1998. A reselling agreement was also entered with Telstra Saturn in 1998, which meant that customers who subscribed to Telstra Saturn's cable telephone and cable TV service could also get Paradise included on their phone bill (either dialup or cable modem service).
Nationwide dialup access was provided in 1999, and Paradise was one of the first ADSL providers in 1999, after Telecom Xtra. The company experienced rapid expansion at this point, and staff numbers increased by a large proportion. The helpdesk began 24 hour service in April 2000.
In 2000, the company was sold to Telstra Saturn, formed after the merger of Telstra
Telstra
Telstra Corporation Limited is an Australian telecommunications and media company, building and operating telecommunications networks and marketing voice, mobile, internet access and pay television products and services....
NZ and Saturn
Saturn Communications
Saturn Communications are an innovative Australian ICT integrator based in Hobart Tasmania. They service Southern Tasmania as well as most parts of Northern Tasmania...
. Most of the staff were retained, and were relocated to Telstra Saturn's new purpose built call centre located near the Stadium
Westpac Stadium
Westpac Stadium, is a major sporting venue in Wellington, New Zealand. Due to its shape and silver coloured external walls, it is colloquially known as The Cake-Tin to the locals and other New Zealanders...
, on Wellington's waterfront. The Paradise brand was absorbed and retained into the new company, and stayed after the purchase of Telstra Saturn by Clear Communications
Clear Communications
Clear Communications was a telecommunications company based in New Zealand. Until merging into Telstra's operations in 2001, it was the biggest rival to Telecom New Zealand....
in December 2001, forming TelstraClear.
TelstraClear decided to merge the Paradise helpdesk with its existing Clearnet helpdesk in Auckland. Most of the Paradise helpdesk staff were made redundant. Some opted for relocation, and the helpdesk was moved from Wellington to Auckland in early 2002. Some servers remained in Wellington however.
Today, Paradise remains a brand inside the TelstraClear umbrella although a secondary one under Clearnet and has surpassed the 100,000 subscriber mark. Only a handful of the existing staff remain, most of them working in the networks side of the company.
In 2009, Telstra Clear ceased accepting new subscriptions to paradise.net, instead preferring new customers to sign up to their other ISP, clear.net.
In 2010, any Paradise accounts that were not on-account (ie, billed directly by Telstra Clear) and were instead paid by credit card, direct debit or automatic payment were terminated, and the affected users offered an on-account plan with Telstra Clear, which required taking landline services with them as well. This means it is no longer possible to have a stand-alone account with Paradise, as landline service with Telstra Clear is a requirement.
- See also Broadband Internet Access (New Zealand)