Free Internet Access Is Profitable In Egypt

prostoalex writes "With the demise of free Internet access providers, it's interesting to see this model working in Egypt, where the state-owned telecom allows people to dial-up for free as long as they pay the regular phone access fees. Associated Press quotes the phone line charges being 25 cents per hour. The ISPs that promote free Internet access from Telecom Egypt are then given their share of the profit."

Comments

The view from the trenches in Ireland

[afflatus_com]

Here in Ireland, all dialup Internet access is this type of "free", in which you are billed for the phone time online.

For the phone company and ISPs, this "Free" Internet Access Is Profitable In Ireland, also.

Few people like it, and would rush to support the other side of the fence, in which there is a flat rate of about $40 euro a month for dialup, and that is it (following the typical unmetered approach available in most of North America). An option of pay-for-phonecall is good, but when the phone company colludes with ISPs to make it the only option available, it cripples the country's online growth.

The largest ISP in Ireland is IrelandOnline(IOL).
The nexus of protest against this forced free-but-pay-for-the-phonecall scam is logically located at IrelandOffline.org

Poland

[jfedor]

In Poland, we've had "free" dial-up like this for about five years now.

But I wouldn't call it free in the presence of people that still are in this dial-up hell if I were you.

-jfedor