[Ignition]

Good questions!

Originally Posted by Earwig

1. Do you personally think the cap is to low?

Nope, I think that the speed, 3Mbit is too low, but the cap is fine.

2. With the way ADSL seems to be picking up in the last month and hopefully over the coming months (Bearing in mind many are offering "Uncapped" or vastly more usage than 40GB) do you think NTL will lose customers? As with faster speeds people will "find" more things they can do with it.

No I don't, an ADSL ISP did something similar and quickly became the fastest growing ADSL ISP in the UK. I've little doubt that for the vast majority this will be a favourable deal and will attract many.

3. Dependant on your answers to 1+2 what do you feel would be a fair cap?

40GB is fine for me.

4. How can Telewest have "faster" download AND upload and STILL be "Uncapped"? Differing technology? Smaller area?

I could spin you a yarn but won't. Due to NDA I'm not at liberty to discuss this.

5. With a merger imminent (as in this year maybe) between the two companies, would NTL have to play catch up? I doubt very much that Telewest would drag there customers to a lower standard so would they offer different products north and south but under one name?

Sadly I haven't a clue how this would pan out, I'm not remotely qualified to answer this.

6. And lastly.......How much headroom is there in the NTL system for further upgrading?? Is it possible for NTL to keep up with these ADSL services that are coming about right now? Could they offer 8MB Down and 1Mb up on current systems? But then thinking about it by the time they do what will ADSL be offering? I think I read somewhere that 8Mb downstream and 1Mb up is the max for ADSL? I have also read about ADSL2 but cannot remeber much, but needless to say it will raise the bar higher still.

The fastest service running over a network similar to ntl's is 10Mbit downstream 1Mbit upstream as operated by Optimum Online in the states and Cogeco in Canada. Higher upload and download speeds are in theory possible. Again I'm not at liberty to discuss anything specific to the ntl network.

The reason I ask these is that I have been with NTL ever since I got into my PC about 2-3 years ago and have never had a problem to speak of. I would like to think that I never will have and will continue to be a valued customer to them. But like alot of people I want to be able to have the fastest speeds and the biggest download quota.....I just don't want to fall behind the compatition but that is what it seems is happening...............

The most diplomatic answer I can give is that ntl is a mainstream ISP, and isn't designed to cater to the enthusiast market. I would love to see a 10Mbit/1Mbit service however those who hold the purse strings may disagree until it's absolutely necessary.

Without any illusions of generosity these services are being implemented for the sole purpose of attracting more customers and increasing profitability on the service as a whole, simple as.