Explanation of Usenet and the backbones

Usenet backone is an important point to understand. A Backbone is the main provider of Usenet servers: Tier-1 Provider and Usenet reseller.

Why you should refer to this table to see which backbone a service uses?

This table makes it easy to see what laws are set in place by each backbone: DMCA takedowns or NTD requests.

Backbones can have servers located across multiple geographic locations: United States (US), Netherlands (NL) and Germany (DE). The physical location of the Usenet server has some incidence on speed. For better speed, you should seek a server that is geographically close to you. 

A backbone may either sells direct to individuals through its own Tier-1 providers (very often, a backbone and a Tier-1 Provider are one and the same) and/or resell services through a reseller.

Lastly, it’s also important to choose different Usenet providers from different backbones in order to increase completion. If a file is missed from one backbone, it may exist on another. The key is to use an unlimited account on one backbone and have block accounts to fill in missing articles from other backbones. If you don’t want two separate Usenet accounts, then try using a second NZB Site.

Below is a table of Usenet backbones with the most essential information, such as: location, Law, Tier-1 provider, reseller, Block products.

UNS Holdings backbone

UNS Holdings is a major player in the usenet market. UNS Holdings owns Tier-1 providers and manages multiples resellers in the US and Europe.

UNS Holdings follows DMCA takedown process.

Tier 1 providers

Newshosting

Servers: US, NL, DE

Retention: 4,200 days

UsenetServer

Servers: US, NL, DE

Retention: 4,200 days

Easynews

Servers: US, NL

Retention: 4,200 days

Web Retention: 3,750 days

UNS Holdings Resellers

Newsdemon

Servers: US, NL, DE

Retention: 4,200 days

Blocknews

Servers: US, NL, DE

Retention: 3,720 days

TheCubenet

Servers: US, NL, DE

Retention: 4,200 days

UsenetNow

Servers: US, NL, DE

Retention: 3,720 days

FrugalUsenet

Servers: US, NL, DE

Retention: 1,600 days

5EuroUsenet

Servers: NL

Retention: 2,000 days

Block accounts

Newsdemon

10 GB $4 - 25 GB $7 - 50 GB $12 - 75 GB $14 - 100 GB $17 - 200 GB $21 - 500 GB $49 - 1000 GB $89 - 4000 GB $250

Blocknews

5 GB $2.75 - 10 GB $3.99 - 25 GB $6.75 - 50 GB $9.99 - 100 GB $14.49 - 200 GB $19.75 - 500 GB $39.99 - 1,024 GB $74.99 - 3,072 GB $214.99

TheCubenet

5 GB $2.99 - 25 GB $6.99 - 50 GB $10.99 - 75 GB $12.99 - 100 GB $14.99 - 200 GB $19.99 - 500 GB $39.99 - 750 GB $59.99

Eweka backbone

Eweka owns and manages their own Usenet backbone in Amsterdam.

Eweka follows NTD takedown

Tier 1 provider

Eweka

Server: NL

Retention: 4,200 days

Tweaknews backbone

Tweaknews is an independent Usenet backbone based in The Netherlands.

Tweaknews follows NTD takedown

Tier 1 provider

Tweaknews

Server: NL

Retention: 3,400 days

Block accounts

Tweaknews

10 GB 2 € - 50 GB 7 € - 100 GB 13 € - 250 GB 30 € - 500 GB 45 €

BaseIP backbone

BaseIP is a backbone that only offers its network via Usenet resellers. Only Netherlands servers.

Law: NTD

BaseIP resellers

ExtremeUsenet

Server: NL

Retention: 1,500 days

Usenetbucket

Server: NL

Retention: 1,600 days

PureUsenet

Server: NL

Retention: 2,000 days

XLNed

Server: NL

Retention: 2,000 days

UsenetExpress backbone

UsenetExpress is an independent backbone with servers in the US.

UsenetExpress follows DMCA notice.

Tier 1 provider

UsenetExpress

Server: US

Retention: 1,100 days

Reseller

UsenetPrime

Server: US

Retention: 1,100 days

Block account

Usenetexpress

500 GB $20

UsenetPrime

1 TB $35

UsenetFarm backbone

UsenetFarm owns its network backbone and data centers in The Netherlands.

Usenet.Farm supports NTD take-down.

Tier 1 provider

UsenetFarm

Server: NL

Retention: 3,000 days

Block account

UsenetFarm

500 GB 15 €

XSNews backbone

XSNews is an independent Usenet backbone based in The Netherlands.

XSNews follows NTD takedown

Tier 1 provider

XSNews

Server: NL

Retention: 1,600 days

Reseller

EasyUsenet

Server: NL

Retention: 1,600 days

Block accounts

EasyUsenet

25 GB 7,95 € - 100 GB 14,95 €

XSNews

20 GB 9,95 € - 100 GB 34,95 € - 1000 GB 124,95 €

Vipernews backbone

Vipernews owns its network backbone and data centers in The Netherlands.

Vipernews supports NTD take-down.

Tier 1 provider

Vipernews

Server: NL

Retention: 1,000 days

Block accounts

Vipernews

500 GB 13,99 € - 1000 GB 23,99 € - 2000 GB 42,99 €

Newsgroupdirect backbone

Newsgroupdirect is an independent backbone with servers in the US.

Newsgroupdirect follows DMCA notice. 

Tier 1 provider

Newsgroupdirect

Server: US

Retention: 1,100 days

Block accounts

Newsgroupdirect

50 GB $9 - 100 GB $14 - 250 GB $19 - 500 GB $35 - 1000 GB $70 - 2000 GB $130