Digiweb unveils Chatterbox voice and broadband deal

1 Dec 2009

Nationwide broadband provider Digiweb has introduced a new broadband bundle that includes unlimited calls to landlines in Ireland and the UK plus 40 free mobile minutes.

The new package entitled ‘Chatterbox’ comes with 4Mbps broadband and requires no line rental.

The Chatterbox package will cost €39.99 a month and, according to Digiweb, could result in savings of €300 per annum for householders.

Great expectations

Digiweb is delivering Chatterbox on its own independent national infrastructure. It expects more than 1,000 new customers per month will sign up to the service. 

Customers will have the option to increase their broadband speeds from 4Mbps to 12Mbps at an additional cost per month.

“At Digiweb, we’re constantly striving to shake up the Irish telecoms market,” said CEO Colm Piercy.

“We firmly believe that our new Chatterbox voice and internet bundle offers the best value in Ireland. Nobody else is offering the same breadth or quality of service at this price.

“The investments we have made in our own national network give us the independence and capability to bring these exciting new products to market,” Piercy said.

Involvement with Smart

It emerged last month that troubled telecoms firm Smart is to exit examinership after telecoms rival Digiweb agreed with the examiners to make an investment in the company.

Digiweb intends to acquire the entire customer base and assets of Smart. The investment by Digiweb, which is subject to approval by creditors and the Irish High Court, enables Smart to emerge from a period of examinership and to form part of the Digiweb Group.

Digiweb said the proposed combination would enable Digiweb-Smart to offer digital communications services to 100pc of the country’s business and consumer population.

The potential merger combines Smart’s fibre, high-speed DSL infrastructure and next-generation IP network with Digiweb’s data centre and hosting platform, and national wireless infrastructure.

Subscriber base

This will give both companies a total subscriber base of 46,500 business, residential, corporate and government customers for broadband, data and telephony, along with more than 48,000 web hosting, domain and data-centre clients.

Piercy said the move brings together two EBITDA-positive businesses with annual revenue approaching €40 million and more than 150 employees.

By John Kennedy

Photo: Digiweb CEO Colm Piercy.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com