Freeserve Claims Unprecedented Subscriber Growth

Internet service provider (ISP) Freeserve claims to be signing up new users faster than ever before and has announced an increase of more than 100% in daily average subscriber growth compared to the fourth quarter of 2001.

The total number of Freeserve customers now stands at just over £2.4 million and the company claims to have ended January 2002 with 60% more subscribers than AOL Europe in the UK.

Freeserve’s chief executive, John Pluthero, said: “Since becoming part of the Wanadoo group in February 2001 (see Freeserve Sold To Wanadoo), we have been working hard to provide the best service available. One year on, it has been recognised by the industry and by the customers who are joining Freeserve in greater numbers than ever.”

Freeserve recently announced that its subscriber growth for the fourth quarter of 2001 was directly attributable to its “Freedom Of The Internet” advertising campaign (see Freeserve Ads Pay Off), the first phase of which launched last November and featured a group of nudists engaging in outdoor pursuits (see Freeserve Ads Pay Off). The second phase of the campaign, which is still running, was unveiled in January (see ITC Receives Freeserve Ad Complaints).

Figures release by Oftel earlier in the week show that the total number of subscriptions to the internet increased by 11.5% during 2001, with every month except May seeing growth in the number of customers signing up to ISPs (see Internet Connectivity Increases).

Freeserve: 0845 070 0066 www.freeserve.co.uk

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