Cable & Wireless announces wholesale broadband strategy to leverage returns from local loop capability


Cable and Wireless plc (“Cable & Wireless”) today (8 June 2006) announces that it will adopt a revised strategy in relation to the consumer and small business element of its local loop capability.

From 1 July 2006, Bulldog will:

Offer a wholesale product to major broadband service providers. Discussions with a number of potential customers for this wholesale service are ongoing;
Cease any further proactive sales, marketing or advertising activities to acquire new residential and small business customers;
Continue as a retail brand for existing customers with ongoing customer care and launch of new innovative services.

As a result of the move to wholesaling, Bulldog will reduce headcount by approximately 150, mainly from the areas of sales and marketing.

The local loop rollout plan is unchanged with a target of 800 fully unbundled exchanges by 30 September 2006, (411 unbundled at 31 March 2006). It is intended that, by the end of this calendar year (2006), Cable & Wireless will use this local loop capability for corporate customer access, in addition to the wholesale offer provided.

Cable & Wireless expects limited benefits from the move to wholesale during 2006/07 as Bulldog completes the local loop roll out and invests in wholesaling capability. Specific guidance will be provided at the interim results on 8 November 2006.

John Pluthero, Group Managing Director, UK said: “As the market leader in full local loop unbundling, we have been looking at the best way to maximise the return on our investment. We believe that a wholesaling approach to the consumer and SME market is the best way to optimise our return from our unique local loop network capability.”

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刚刚才开通Bulldog几天，就收到这个噩耗。本来服务就差了，现在可好，更有理由变得更差了。。。裁员150人，基本上没人作客服了把？！

郁闷阿，这回是上了贼船了。。。。

觉得他们这样作是不是属于商业欺诈？！最近电视上狂作广告，老用户介绍新用户又有开户cashback，现在才知道是最后抓一把客户源。无耻阿！

是不是意思是说七月一号以后就开始不再做RESIDENTAIL业务了？ 新顾客就不能再申请BULLDOG的宽带了吗？~~

只是说转成WHOLE SALE了。我想价格会更便宜。

Cease any further proactive sales, marketing or advertising activities to acquire new residential and small business customers;

我觉得这句话的意思是说“停止获得新RESIDENTIAL客户和小型客户一切进一步的积极的销售，广告活动”，意思是说不再有什么促销之类的活动来争取小客户了，比如说什么免费的MORDEM啊这些活动， 意思可能是以后像我们这种想再申请BULLDOG的顾客将不再得到什么优惠了，机会很小了，以后会是明码实价了。~~

correct me if i am wrong~~

这个已经比原来预期的要好很多了. 因为年初bulldog就一直亏钱. 基本上对c&w没有利用价值了. 虽然我也是他们的用户.

7. With the planned headcount reduction can you still support my business?

The headcount reduction will only be affecting commercial functions, sales and marketing. All customer supporting functions will remain fully operational.

8. Is Bulldog completely withdrawing from retail?

No. We have a strong base of existing customers whose custom we value highly and want to retain. Our customer care agents are, and will remain available to you for any support queries you may have. Our technical team continues to be fully operational and will go on expanding our network. Our finance team will also be fully available for all payment and billing requirements.

9. With the focus on wholesale, what will be the impact on the retail side?

We remain committed to our retail customers. We have a strong base of existing customers whose custom we value highly and want to retain. All customer supporting functions remain fully operational. Your account and the way you do business with us will in no way be affected.

对C AND W没有利用价质了是什么意思？如果换成了WHOLESALE就不再是CABLE AND WIRELESS了吗？ 不懂~~~

还是看看动作吧。

这个新闻的意思是大东电报局在买了Bulldog后，觉得专做 local loop rollout 更有投资价值，以后就专心做这个，然后卖给其它ISP。原因大概是ISP竞争太激烈，现在mobile company又挤进来，所以做 local loop rollout 更好。所以Bulldog就不要新用户了（不作零售了），原有的用户当让继续保留，但有可能以后把这部份卖掉。但这样对用户并不一定是坏消息。

对我这样的现有用户，发个email来说没什么影响。谁知道呢。

那就是说这个月就是最后能注册BULLDOG的期限了吗? 七月份一过就再也不能成为新CUSTOMER了,是吗?

楼上是的