Small but geting more popular ?

[old Bill]

Found this artical. Has the time come for the small ISPs.
Ofcom has today published the findings of its brief research into smaller (niche) UK ISP's:

The UK niche ISP market is made up of approximately 686 service providing businesses, of which:

390 provide 'Hosting, Connections and other services'

224 provide 'Hosting and other services'

72 provide 'Connections and other services'
In total, they claim to serve approximately 1.9 million customers (including both business and residential consumers) in the UK , and the estimated value of turnover is £1.15 billion per annum. The actual proportion of their turnover relating to Internet connections (i.e. connections via broadband / dial up and hosting services excluding all other services) is approximately £740m and niche ISPs that provide connections and hosting and other services serve approximately 1.3m customers (both business and consumer/home) in the UK.

In terms of the total market, Niche ISPs (irrespective of the type of services provided) serve approximately:

30% of the total enterprises in the UK

5% of UK households
According to the niche ISPs surveyed, 16% of all UK businesses and 2% of UK households have an internet connection service supplied by a niche ISP.

The vast majority (83%) of niche ISPs have less than 20 employees, equally split between technical and non-technical staff. 61% of ISPs have only one office location and tend to generate less than £1m annual turnover. Most of the niche ISPs approached are located in England and more precisely in the South (South East: 27%, London : 15% and South West: 7%).

In terms of types of businesses they serve, the focus is on smaller companies with one to 30 employees.

Niche ISPs offer internet connections, web-hosting and other IT services, as part of a tailored, consultative service to businesses.

Typically smaller providers also claim to offer a higher quality of customer care than their larger rivals. That's debatable; although small groups of customers experiencing problems are less likely to bother a larger provider, where as a niche one would have to take notice.

[Nerval]

Interesting Bill.  Where did u find it?

I like the bit about: small groups of customers experiencing problems are less likely to bother a larger provider
If Plusnet are anything to go by, even LARGE groups of customers with problems don't bother them   

[old Bill]

Hi,
   Found it tucked down the front page of Ispreview.

[maxping]

Typically smaller providers also claim to offer a higher quality of customer care than their larger rivals.

We know its not just a claim