Pretty exciting news today as UK cable giant ntl:Telewest have announced the launch of Britain's first quad-play service, coming by September.
Quad-play: that's a digital TV, broadband, fixed-line phone and mobile phone package.
Though it has the potential for 'eggs in one basket' worries, I've been pretty impressed with ntl:Telewest's services and innovation to date, and this looks like it'll shake the market up.
Providing they can deliver, there's a pretty tasty package lined up:
- Free digital TV for all home phone customers - the starter package (40+ digital channels) which can be upgraded at any time.
- Free for life of subscription
- Freeview and then some - advanced next gen services (ie high-def and Video on Demand). They claim that even Sky can't match that (yet)
- Home phone service with unlimited local and national weekend phone calls
- Virgin mobile phone contract
- 2Mb broadband service
The service is a combo of ntl:Telewest's '3 for £30 quid' service and a Virgin Mobile monthly pay contract, all for just £40 a month.
Pretty impressive.
First impressions?
- 2Mb broadband is rather sluggish these days (there's no mention yet of whether this can be upgraded as part of the deal - Telewest currently offer up to 10Mb speeds on their Elite package) but there's no reason why they won't bump the speed as BT have done.
- The TV package is good - it doesn't come with TVDrive as standard but does have the Teleport VoD service - and can be upgraded.
- It will be interesting to see how BT respond, as before the end of the year they should have all the components in place to offer a similar package (BT Vision and BT Mobile). Whatever they do, ntl:Telewest certainly seem to have the first-to-market advantage.
Is this a deal you'd go for? Would you be happy to take all your communication, digital TV and Internet services from one company?
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