Pacnet exits Singapore residential market

The decision by Pacnet, Singapore's second Internet service provider (ISP), to exit the local residential market on Dec 1 means about 26,000 home users have less than two months to find another ISP.

These users will have to surrender their @pacific.net.sg e-mail addresses, some of which have been in existence for 17 years. Pacnet will terminate its dial-up and broadband Internet access as well as fax, domain name, e-mail and Web security services on Dec 1. However, the company's corporate customers will not be affected by the move.

In an e-mail notification sent out on Tuesday to residential customers, Pacnet said affected broadband users can get exclusive promotions from SingNet, its arch-rival for almost two decades. The offer, valid until Oct 31, includes a SingNet 100Mbps fibre broadband plan for $49.90 a month - $10 cheaper than SingNet's current offer to non-Pacnet customers.

Affected customers were also advised in the e-mail to start forwarding their e-mails to another account. Pacnet will continue to forward affected customers' e-mails to their specified accounts until the end of February next year. Customers will have to go to Pacnet's website to indicate a forwarding e-mail address.