Freedom2surf has launched a broadband internet service aimed specifically at online gamers.

Broadband 4 Gamers is an up to 8MB service claiming to offer 50 per cent lower ping times, prioritised traffic and just two hops between a gamer's router and the game server.

The service runs over the Wireplay gaming network, which is housed in the same data centre at which the gamer's ADSL connection terminates.

"Typically, we see ping times up to 50 per cent lower than standard connections, and only two hops between your router and the game server," said the Freedom2surf website.

"In fact, the termination point of Broadband 4 Gamers ADSL is so close to our racks of gaming servers that you could touch them both."

The service also aims to provide a smoother broadband connection by cutting out the interruptions from traffic management.

Broadband 4 Gamers costs at £24.99 a month and comes with a 50GB bandwidth limit.

"Most broadband connections are fine for web surfing and downloading music, but gamers need a service optimised for performance," said Richard Manly, consumer product marketing manager at Freedom2surf.

Other features of the package include 500 minutes of free home phone calls, 20 email addresses with 200MB storage each, 200MB of web space and a 20GB Giganews group allowance.

The service also gives subscribers free access to a selection of games on Wireplay, including Half Life, Quake 2 and Ultima.