Broadband News & Mobile Broadband News

To add to its current woes, its been reported today that many Tiscali Broadband customers had no access to email over the Easter bank holiday weekend.

The incident is thought to have been caused by the company’s failure to renew the screaming.net domain, a domain Tiscali acquired as part of its merger with World Online back in 2000.

A technical agent of Network Solutions (the company Tiscali used to purchase/renew the domain name through) told ISPreview, “Multiple expiration notices were sent to Tiscali by Network Solutions prior to, and after the domain name registration expired. When we did not receive Tiscali’s renewal fee by the expiration date, their domain name registration services were deactivated.”

Continuing the agent said, “However, rather than delete the domain name at that point, we sent additional renewal notices and provided a grace period of more than 30 days. Because we did not receive Tiscali’s renewal fees by the end of the grace period, the domain name services were terminated in accordance with our Service Agreement and the domain name was registered by another registrant.”

Tiscali have been surprisingly quiet over the incident, despite angry customers bombarding their technical support forum. However, they did give the following statement, “We are aware that there has been an issue with users accessing the screaming.net email. We have identified this as an issue with our domain name partner and are pursuing this as a matter of urgency today.”

It certainly comes as another blow for the struggling company as it searches for a buyer.

Even though it backed out a year ago, the Carphone Warehouse is once again considering buying out Tiscali, the debt laden telecoms company that operates in both the UK and Italy.

Tiscali had been in talks with BSkyB, but negotiations broke down over price, leaving the Carphone Warehouse with an opportunity to reconsider a buyout plan.

Without a buyer, there is a real danger that Tiscali will enter administration, which would mean their customer base being sold to a different provider at a cut price.

In February the company’s shares were suspended as it struggled to repay the interest due on its £508 million debt pile.

The Carphone Warehouse refused to give a statement on the supposed takeover plan, saying, “We never comment on speculation.” Tiscali also refused to comment on the matter.

Only time will tell whether Tiscali can find a buyer and that leaves its customers in a fairly tough position. Should they stay and be sold on to a different provider? Or should they consider switching now?

Tiscali, the UK’s fifth largest broadband provider with over 1.8 million broadband customers is facing a fight for survival following the breakdown of its sale to broadcaster and triple play operator BSkyB.

The company, which operates in the UK and Italy is now asking banks to freeze its loan interest and capital repayments whilst it focuses on rebuilding its infrastructure. Shares in the company have been suspended following an extraordinary 40% drop in just one day.

The company’s main debt holder, JP Morgan, is now looking at all the options available with administration likely.

The company has debt of roughly £508 million, with deadlines for their next repayments of 11 million Euros being today, March 11th and Friday March 13th.

The proposed sale of Tiscali’s UK assets to BSkyB broke down because BSkyB’s offer, influenced by the current economic slow down, was far short of the £500-£600 million that Tiscali was asking for.

It now looks like the company will either have to cut its losses and sell well below its current asking price, or consider going into administration.

750 people are employed by Tiscali within the UK.

You can now get free phone line rental and free weekend phone calls with 8Mb unlimited Tiscali Broadband for just £9.99 a month.



The £9.99 per month price point applies for the first 3 months, followed by £14.99 per month for the remainder of the 12 month contract.

You can save £126 a year on your telephone line rental alone with this fantastic Tiscali Broadband and Talk package with free phone line rental.

You’ll also receive a free wireless router and free weekend International landline calls.

Please read our Tiscali Broadband review for more information on this deal and all the other Tiscali Broadband packages and bundles currently on offer.

Tiscali have cut the price of its wireless broadband and phone calls package to just £4.49 a month.

For this you’ll get up to 8Mb unlimited wireless Tiscali broadband plus free UK and International weekend phone calls.



The £4.49 per month price point applies for the first 3 months, followed by £12.99 per month for the remainder of the 12 month contract.

Set up is free whilst you’ll also receive a free wireless router. You can also keep your existing telephone number.

This is a special online offer that’s available until the 31st May 2008 so please use our Tiscali Broadband review for more information.