Remember when dial-up Internet created a run on second lines? That trend fueled great growth (and cash flow) in telco access lines. Unfortunately for telcos, it was short lived. That growth came crumbling back down soon after broadband’s adoption curve spiked, causing customers to disconnect those slow dial-up second lines. These declines played a big early-on role in the “telco access line blood bath,” which continues today, albeit for different reasons.
Frontier seems to be taking a page out of that history (the good part anyway) with their new Second Connect campaign, which advocates customers subscribing to a second DSL line for better and faster broadband. Don’t fight with your kids to share a single DSL connection, Frontier advocates. Just add another.
“If your house now has a single dedicated Frontier connection to the Internet and you are tired of sharing bandwidth to get your work done at home with the kids’ schoolwork, gaming, social networking and streaming video, call Frontier today at 800-921-8101 or visit Frontier Second Connect for more information. We can help!” advises Leona Lindner, Vice President of Commercial Marketing for Frontier in a press release.
Interesting approach. On the one hand, legions of customers may relate to the idea, given they remember the need for second lines for Internet service. Perhaps they’ll bite. Frontier will charge as low as $13.50/month (and a $6.99/month modem fee) for the privilege.
On the other hand, this campaign is not without risk. Does it expose the limitations of Frontier’s DSL broadband experience? Some customers may ask, why do I have to buy a second line (or Connect in this case) to get the broadband experience I need for my household?
I could see telecompetitors to Frontier who have DOCSIS 3.0 or FTTH capability having a field day competing with this offer. “Why buy two DSL lines from Frontier when you can buy a single faster one from us?” they’ll argue. Should be interesting to watch.
If they're going to do a second DSL line, why not just do a bonded DSL product and bump up the speed significantly?
Because it's a marketing strategy question, not a technology question. They think they can get people to subscribe to a "second line" and pay for it. We'll have to see if that bet works.
Because it is cheaper to provision the second line than to condition the line for pair bonding, plus the pair bonded modems are more expensive.
Frontier will also get to count the DSL pair as an access line and make their numbers look better.
Frontier doesn't see a lot of FTTH or cable modem competition, so not too many worries there.
And this is the same company that drove away FiOS subs with $500 installs? Could be the worst two consecutive moves in telco history.
They are going to do pair bonding or Twinning in my area (update NY) in 6 months.
Where i am, where there is no other option, this is fantastic. Keep a dedicated line for the PS3 for bandwidth hogging netflix for the roomates and another for my xbox for COD.