BayanTel eyes bigger share of DSL market

Lopez-owned Bayan Telecommunications Inc. (BayanTel) has expressed confidence it will be able to corner a significant share of the digital subscriber line (DSL) market, despite being a late entrant.

This, after the company announced that it is now offering its DSL Internet service to residential subscribers.

BayanTel DSL, initially offered to small to large-scale businesses, enjoyed a hefty growth in subscriber base since it was launched last year.

Company officials said that with a reasonably priced service available, BayanTel DSL is expected to attract residential subscribers with its reliable connection and any time technical support.

BayanTel vice-president for residential markets Rodrigo Montinola said current BayanTel subscribers are a natural market for these new services, as he expressed confidence about cornering a significant share of the DSL market in its areas.

"We may be a late entrant in the market but we believe these new services present a reliable and best-in-value option to Internet subscribers," Montinola stressed.

Montinola said that the service would differentiate itself from the market with its speed and by delivering committed bandwidth at any time of the day. "BayanTel has long been a preferred data and Internet service provider to corporate customers and we are committed to deliver the same reliable and quality service to our DSL residential subscribers."

BayanTel DSL is priced P2,999 per month. And for the month of August, subscribers who will sign up for BayanTel DSL will enjoy a monthly fee of only P1,999 for the first three months of subscription. Montinola also assured subscribers of quick installation within five days.

BayanTel DSL is initially available for residents in areas in Quezon City, Malabon and Manila.

At the same time, Montinola announced BayanTel is now offering instant and fast Internet connection to fixed line subscribers with the new Bayan Internet, a post-paid dialup Internet access from a BayanTel phone line with a simple configuration of the computer.

He explained Bayan Internet is catered to the budget-conscious Internet users as they will pay only for minutes used for as low as P0.25 per minute. Convenience is another advantage of Bayan Internet as no installation is required as long as the subscriber has an active BayanTel phone, he added.

Usage fee is reflected in the BayanTel phone bill and eliminates the need to buy cards or the inconvenience of paying another bill.