EarthLink, DISH Network offer DSL bundle

Internet service provider EarthLink and DISH Network owner EchoStar Communications Corp. today announced an arrangement to bundle EarthLink’s high-speed Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) service with the DISH Network service.

DISH Network will, as part of the agreement, offer its customers bundled service packages directly and through its nationwide dealer chain. DISH Network customers who sign up for DSL service via EarthLink will get a monthly service charge credit of up to $10.

The service plan is open to new EarthLink customers who subscribe to both services; they have to take DISH Network’s America’s Top 100 programming package or better to qualify for the price break.

EchoStar Senior Vice President Mark Jackson calls the bundle “an attractive entertainment and information package” for his company’s customers. “The availability of discounted bundled services makes it simple for our customers to take advantage of the best of high-speed Internet and digital television, and it provides our company and our retailers with a strong new offering to meet the needs of our all-digital demanding customers,” he said.

EchoStar and EarthLink will also offer discounted bundled satellite television/dial-up access services to customers who live in areas outside EarthLink’s DSL reach.

This announcement comes two months after Hughes Electronics announced plans to shut down its own DSL bundle service. Hughes owns DISH Network rival (and ex-merger partner) DirecTV. DirecTV has offloaded its DSL subscribers to other DSL providers, including Verizon and SBC Communications.