UK Online
Encyclopedia
UK Online was a consumer Internet service provider
that operated within the UK, and began as a dial-up
provider in 1994. Network provider Easynet
acquired the company in 1996.
Initially launching an ADSL based broadband product in November 2004 with a 1MB service, they did not appear to be offering anything out of the ordinary. However, they quickly followed up by launching one of the UK's first consumer 8MB services in the same month. At the initial price of £39.99 a month, the service caused quite a stir in the UK broadband market. The 8MB service was only available in areas serviced by the parent company Easynet's LLU
operations. Areas not covered were offered traditional speed products based on BT
wholesale products. Along with planned speed upgrades by cable supplier Telewest
, the UK Online 8MB service helped spur a series of investments by other ISPs in the UK in an effort to keep up.
As of October 2007 UK Online provided three packages, Lite, Pro, and Premier - all with "unlimited" usage limits. However a Fair Usage Policy applies to all packages and heavy users will be moved onto so called "bad boy pipes" (although this appears not to happen with LLU connections).
Since the regulatory approval of ADSL2+ technology in the UK, UK Online have been able to offer services with speeds up to 22MB, and were one of the first companies to do so on a national scale. This is still based on the Easynet LLU coverage however.
In October 2005 BSkyB purchased Easynet and so now also owns UK Online, however UK Online continues to exist as a separate entity from Sky Broadband
. In January 2008 Easynet Connect
was launched as a SME ISP by UK Online and Easynet.
In spring 2008 UK Online announced it would shortly be launching a number of competitive new services, including domain registration, Microsoft Hosted Exchange email and commercial web hosting on Windows and Linux. The development of the planned services was cancelled and all mention of them, including the pre-registration page, quietly dropped from the website in May/June 2008.
In September 2009 the online ordering system started displaying a message of "We are unable to confirm some information about your current connection and cannot process your signup online at this time. You can still sign up for UK Online by calling us directly on 0800 053 2222". However, on ringing up, customers were told the ordering systems were being updated, and orders could not be placed.
In November 2010, UK Online announced on its home page that Sky was closing it down, with all UK Online services due to end on 21 January 2011.
By February 2011, the UK Online website stated simply "UK Online is now closed". However, there were problems with the company closure and a number of customers have reported that their phone lines still had ADSL activated on them with the consequence that they could not migrate to another ISP despite the fact that they no longer receive any service from either UK Online or Sky.
(This ISP should not be confused with the UK online centres network of community internet access points run by Ufi Ltd
.)
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...
that operated within the UK, and began as a dial-up
Dial-up access
Dial-up Internet access is a form of Internet access that uses the facilities of the public switched telephone network to establish a dialled connection to an Internet service provider via telephone lines...
provider in 1994. Network provider Easynet
Easynet
Easynet Global Services are a provider of managed network, hosting and telepresence solutions for businesses and enterprises worldwide.Founded in 1994, Easynet Global Services are part of the Easynet group of companies, along with Easynet Connect and UK Online.It was a part of BSkyB, a FTSE top 50...
acquired the company in 1996.
Initially launching an ADSL based broadband product in November 2004 with a 1MB service, they did not appear to be offering anything out of the ordinary. However, they quickly followed up by launching one of the UK's first consumer 8MB services in the same month. At the initial price of £39.99 a month, the service caused quite a stir in the UK broadband market. The 8MB service was only available in areas serviced by the parent company Easynet's LLU
Local loop unbundling
Local loop unbundling is the regulatory process of allowing multiple telecommunications operators to use connections from the telephone exchange to the customer's premises...
operations. Areas not covered were offered traditional speed products based on BT
BT Group
BT Group plc is a global telecommunications services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is one of the largest telecommunications services companies in the world and has operations in more than 170 countries. Through its BT Global Services division it is a major supplier of...
wholesale products. Along with planned speed upgrades by cable supplier Telewest
Telewest
Telewest, formerly Telewest Broadband and Telewest Communications was a cable Internet, broadband internet, telephone supplier and cable television provider in the United Kingdom...
, the UK Online 8MB service helped spur a series of investments by other ISPs in the UK in an effort to keep up.
As of October 2007 UK Online provided three packages, Lite, Pro, and Premier - all with "unlimited" usage limits. However a Fair Usage Policy applies to all packages and heavy users will be moved onto so called "bad boy pipes" (although this appears not to happen with LLU connections).
Since the regulatory approval of ADSL2+ technology in the UK, UK Online have been able to offer services with speeds up to 22MB, and were one of the first companies to do so on a national scale. This is still based on the Easynet LLU coverage however.
In October 2005 BSkyB purchased Easynet and so now also owns UK Online, however UK Online continues to exist as a separate entity from Sky Broadband
Sky Broadband
Sky Broadband is an internet service provider for Sky customers.As of March 2008 Sky claims to have reached 1.428 million customers, and unbundled 1,179 exchanges, covering 70% of the United Kingdom. In October 2007, Sky reached the 1 million mark in terms of customer numbers, and claim to be...
. In January 2008 Easynet Connect
Easynet connect
Easynet Connect is a UK based Internet service provider. The Easynet Connect brand was founded on 7 January 2008 to focus on small-to-medium size companies with 11-249 employees. Easynet Connect’s core focus is as a business ISP, providing internet access connectivity, hosting and colocation...
was launched as a SME ISP by UK Online and Easynet.
In spring 2008 UK Online announced it would shortly be launching a number of competitive new services, including domain registration, Microsoft Hosted Exchange email and commercial web hosting on Windows and Linux. The development of the planned services was cancelled and all mention of them, including the pre-registration page, quietly dropped from the website in May/June 2008.
In September 2009 the online ordering system started displaying a message of "We are unable to confirm some information about your current connection and cannot process your signup online at this time. You can still sign up for UK Online by calling us directly on 0800 053 2222". However, on ringing up, customers were told the ordering systems were being updated, and orders could not be placed.
In November 2010, UK Online announced on its home page that Sky was closing it down, with all UK Online services due to end on 21 January 2011.
By February 2011, the UK Online website stated simply "UK Online is now closed". However, there were problems with the company closure and a number of customers have reported that their phone lines still had ADSL activated on them with the consequence that they could not migrate to another ISP despite the fact that they no longer receive any service from either UK Online or Sky.
(This ISP should not be confused with the UK online centres network of community internet access points run by Ufi Ltd
Ufi Ltd
Ufi Ltd is a not-for-profit organisation created in 1998 to take forward the UK Government's vision of a University for Industry in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
.)