Tiscali to offer usage-based broadband

Tiscali has unveiled two broadband services that bill customers according to their online usage, together with an uncapped 1Mbps broadband offering for under £29.99.

The company said that its new 1Mbps service, based on its DataStream network, would be available to approximately 80 per cent of UK broadband-enabled areas.

Customers outside DataStream areas can sign up to a special deal from April that offers a 1Mbps IPStream service for £34.99 per month, with no set-up fee and a free modem.

The ISP's two pay-as-you-go services, priced at £19.99 a month, have the option of a 1GB or 50-hour monthly limit on downloads and access respectively. Customers exceeding their limit will have to pay 2p for each additional gigabyte or minute.

To avoid surprise bills, Tiscali said it would send email alerts to users who reach their limit, and has capped the monthly bill for both packages at £50.

"We are now offering a choice of six broadband packages at great prices to suit all needs and pockets," the company said in a statement.

Mary Turner, Tiscali's chief executive, added that all products would include the ISP's secure mail, anti-spam and antivirus services.