Malcolm, the UK situation is not clear at the momment. I got this from WorldOnline the other day:

You may have heard or read in the press about Internet Service Providers (ISPs) who have withdrawn their unmetered internet services. The main reason behind these withdrawals has been the cost to Internet Service Providers.

Unmetered internet access means a customer pays a fixed charge and can then use the internet as often and for as long as they want. ISPs, however, are still charged a metered or 'per minute' charge by BT to deliver customers internet calls to their service.

This metered charging by BT was due to change under a system called Flat Rate Internet Access Origination (FRIACO). This was to result in an ISP being charged a flat price per annum to have internet traffic delivered to 'ports' in BT exchanges. Other Licensed Operators (OLOs) like MCI Worldcom, Energis and Colt could then pick up that traffic and route the calls to the ISP for a flat fee.

The FRIACO system was due to be implemented in June of this year but still, due to 'the ironing out of the detail' between Oftel, BT and the OLOs, there is no viable wholesale flat rate package currently available to ISPs. In addition, there is no definite date as to when FRIACO will be commercially available.

World Online is committed to delivering unmetered internet access to its customers. In light of the delays in the availability of FRIACO, World Online is currently having to review its products and pricing. We are consulting widely with our customers before any plans are finalised.

If any changes need to be made in the near future, they will be reviewed once a FRIACO product is available to us. In the event of there being any changes, we will be giving all our customers at least twenty one days notice. In the meantime, if you have any comments on this matter, please send them to:

Jon