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Freeserve cuts off users
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October 10, 2000: 9:40 a.m. ET
Britain's largest Internet service provider gives heavy users the boot
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LONDON (CNNfn) - When does unlimited Internet access really mean limited Internet access? When you're a customer of Freeserve PLC, Britain's biggest Web service provider.
Hundreds of enthusiastic Internet users may be looking for new service providers after Freeserve said it was expelling flat-fee customers who burdened its network by logging on for some 17 hours a day.
The company has sent e-mails to between 600 and 700 customers -- less than 1 percent of the subscribers to its Unlimited Freeserve Time tariff --saying their service will be cut off in a month's time because they have breached the terms of use, Paul Barker, Freeserve spokesman said Tuesday.
That handful of customers, many of whom run businesses off the network, eat up about 10 percent of Freeserve's network capacity, Barker said.
Freeserve has suggested to its heavy users that they switch to a high-speed ADSL connection, for about four times the £10 ($14.50) monthly flat fee.
 Freeserve (FRE) shares were up 3.7 percent at 218.75 pence.
The company said that most of its flat-fee customers log on for one to two hours a day.
Freeserve, which also offers pay-as-you go Internet access, had more than 2 million customers as of Sept. 24. 
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Freeserve
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