Tiscali is to launch quadplay service

Tiscali, the fourth largest broadband provider in UK is to launch its quadruple services in the last quarter of this year, according to the report from Telegraph. Tiscali, the Italian based ISP is already offering triple play packages that include broadband, home phone and TV services. Tiscali’s plan to enter quadplay market was announced by the company’s CEO, Mary Turner as the ISP is already in talks with all major UK mobile operators in this regard.

"The assessment is not if, it is who and when. The business case has already been approved by the board."



It looks like that it will be a SIM only service, meaning, the ISP will not sell mobile phones and its customers will have to use their own handsets or buy new handsets to use the service. The company’s subsidiary, ToucanMobile service along with its infrastructure and customer base will be used to provide the fourth element to Tiscali’s quadplay service but will be rebranded and named after the Italian based ISP. It should be noted ToucanMobile is currently using the network of T-mobile for providing service to its customers. It is more likely, the new mobile firm may change T-mobile for some other network.



In UK, a few broadband providers like Virgin Media, BT combine other services including TV, home phone and mobile broadband. These bundled packages, though cheaper and adding great value to money, the uptake largely depends on needs of customers and the quality that ISPs offer. Tiscal’s acquisition of Homechoice in 2006 helped the ISP to sustain the growth in broadband uptake, but the number of Tiscali broadband TV customers fell by 10 percent by the end of last quarter. However, other TV over broadband services like BT Vision, Sky and Virgin fared well in the competition. A new entrant in pay TV market like O2 is also expected to make the market much more competitive.



However, the CEO of Tiscali, gave her comments with positive note.

"It's all about timing. The market will be ready, but you have to absolutely convenient for the customers to buy that fourth product."