Etisalat increases speed limit on information superhighway with 4Mbps home package

This is double the currently available maximum speed for residential packages, and will greatly enhance home Internet access for people who require high-speed connections for their work or entertainment. Etisalat is also enabling its high-bandwidth broadband Al Shamil customers with high-speed connectivity when they are outside their homes, with monthly 4-hour free usage at Etisalat Hotspots included with their subscriptions.

Essa Al Haddad, Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat, said: "Our studies into consumer habits have shown that people are carrying out a lot of online activity from the comfort of their homes, and using multiple PCs and Laptops to stay in touch with family and friends or to benefit from the information superhighway with downloading of multimedia content, online gaming and much more. While our packages until now have enabled a number of people to benefit from access to high-speed Internet, we are now enabling customers with the high-speed and increased benefits of the 4Mbps package for those who wish to use high-bandwidth applications at home."

Etisalat, voted by Windows Middle East readers as Best ISP of the Year 2007, assures customers that the new home 4Mbps package will bring a whole new online experience for home users, even enabling them to conduct a number of high-bandwidth activities simultaneously. The additional benefits available for all subscribers of the home 4Mbps package include 5 free email addresses and free Norton Internet Antivirus and Norton Internet Security.

Bringing further benefits of always-on, always-connected Internet to users of higher bandwidth Internet packages, Etisalat is also throwing open the benefits of the Etisalat Hotspot service (Public Wireless Internet, also known as WiFi) to high speed Al Shamil subscribers. All subscribers to Etisalat's 1Mbps, 2Mbps and 4Mbps Al Shamil packages will be able to enjoy 4 hours free browsing per month at more than 250 Etisalat Hotspot locations in the UAE. For usage exceeding the inclusive 4 hours, Al Shamil subscribers can access Etisalat Hotspots at rates as low as AED 6 per hour.

Etisalat Hotspots are available in airports, convention centres, shopping malls, coffee shops and other major commercial and entertainment venues in the UAE, and bring wireless broadband connectivity to customers with laptops or wireless handheld devices enabled with wi-fi technology.

Etisalat Hotspots are open to anyone with a suitable wi-fi enabled device, and there are a number of payment options for the regular as well as infrequent users. Hotspot users can sign in using the details from any of their existing Etisalat accounts, or use a credit card to make the payments. Etisalat's prepaid card of AED 20 can also be used to access high-speed wireless Internet. Information on Etisalat Hotspots are available on www.etisalat.ae/hotspots

The UAE has the highest broadband penetration rates in the region, and this has been possible with Etisalat's commitment to bringing broadband connectivity across the nation. Al Shamil home broadband packages begin at the 256kbps package to the newly introduced 4Mbps package.