Beeb.net, the ISP operated by the commercial arm of BBC, BBC Worldwide, is closing down after nine years because of dwindling subscriber numbers, reports Guardian. The service offers web hosting, dial-up and broadband access and free web-based e-mail but will close all services on June 30. The subscribers to its broadband service dropped to as low as below 250 in the face of competition from big players including BSkyB (NYSE: BSY) and Virgin Media (NSDQ: VMED), which have triple-play deals for home phone, broadband and digital TV.

The service was launched in 1999, and by 2001, it was profitable and had 140,000 users.