Prices have dropped significantly in recent weeks for the Island?s Internet users, with those close to the industry saying prices aren?t likely to drop much further. Some have said pricing levels are now nearing what you would pay in the US, but research shows that by and large it is still cheaper to surf the web in the US.

To access the Internet, there are various plans available from a growing number of Bermuda Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Each requires you to have some kind of telephone service or in future, it may be possible to do so through a connection through another carrier that may become licensed for this kind of service.

Although broadband*access is now available at lower prices than dial-up in the US, getting online by calling through your telephone line is still the most affordable, although slower, way to go. dial-up access to the Internet is available on an unlimited basis for $19.95 but you must have BTC phone service to access the service at a cost of $26 for the first 50 calls and then an additional 20 cents per call, per hour. has also announced that they will soon be rolling out a new high-speed dial-up service for $24.95. is offering high-speed access ?Max dial? for $29.95, which it claims is five times faster than any of the dial-up services offered by its Bermuda competitors.Bermuda surfers can trawl the web at high speeds by subscribing to a broadband service ? digital technology that allows consumers the ability to access voice and high-speed data services through a single line. This can be done either over a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or through the fixed wireless service available from North Rock.

DSL users must have a ADSL line installed by BTC, which costs significantly more than the $26 charge for basic telephone service.

ADSL costs from BTC Velocity:

ADSL 256k ? basic $89 per month or premium (with five calling features) for $99

ADSL 512 K ? basic $109 or premium (also with five calling features) for $119

The actual DSL service is provided by one of the Island?s ISPs with all offering the same prices for service after Logic slashed prices last week.

unlimited 128k upload/128k download for $29.95

unlimited 128k upload/256k download for $69.95

unlimited 128k upload/512k download for $139.95 as of Tuesday morning, moved to offer higher speeds for the same price as competitors for lower speeds. It is also offering these prices for the same upload/download rates, unlike competitors.

unlimited up/down 150k $29.95

unlimited up/down 300k $69.95

unlimited up/down 600k $99.95

unlimited up/down 1 Mg $199.95

High-speed Internet access is also available through service.

To have a 128 speed data/voice line from North Rock, the charge is $79.

To have a 256k speed data/voice line from North Rock, the charge is $99. This compares to $89 from BTC or $99 for the premium package.

North Rock?s line does not support fax, nor can you get any additional features such as call waiting, caller ID or the ability for conference calling.

The cost for unlimited Internet is on par with DSL pricing, 128k for $29.95 and 256k for $69.95.