Giganews

Giganews is a pioneer of commercial Usenet access: founded in 1994, the provider has been active for over three decades and has shaped several technical standards during this time, including the introduction of SSL encryption for Usenet connections. Unlike many competitors that rely on external backbone partners, Giganews operates fully owned servers, infrastructure, and server software – without dependency on third-party providers.

Backbone and Infrastructure

Giganews operates redundant server clusters in North America and Europe, fully managed in-house. This end-to-end infrastructure control sets Giganews apart from resellers and co-hosted providers. The company was reportedly the first Usenet provider to introduce SSL encryption – a technical milestone that has since become an industry standard. All server software was developed internally, enabling faster response to technical requirements and optimizations.

Retention: Over 5 Years Binary, Over 18 Years Text

Giganews offers binary retention of over 5 years – more than 1,800 days of stored binary content. For text newsgroups, retention extends significantly further to over 18 years, reaching back to the early commercial internet era. With access to over 110,000 newsgroups, Giganews covers the entire active Usenet spectrum. The provider claims a 100% completion rate – virtually no published article is lost.

VyprVPN Included

A key component of the Giganews subscription is VyprVPN – a no-log VPN from the associated company Golden Frog. VyprVPN is included in the Giganews subscription at no additional cost, covering VPN needs without requiring a separate subscription. The VPN stores no activity logs – an important privacy commitment backed by the service's no-log architecture.

Connections and Speed

Giganews provides 100+ simultaneous connections – sufficient to fully utilize high-speed internet connections. Advertised speeds are unlimited – no artificial speed cap. Combined with the high connection count, gigabit connections can be fully saturated. The provider claims 100% uptime through redundant server clusters.

Privacy and Corporate Philosophy

Giganews explicitly states it does not sell user data to third parties and does not track what users access. The combination of no-log VPN (VyprVPN) and this privacy commitment positions Giganews as a privacy-oriented choice despite its US jurisdiction. As a US provider, Giganews follows DMCA procedures for copyright complaints. Support is handled by in-house, non-outsourced staff (24/7).

Free Trial

Giganews offers a free trial access allowing evaluation without upfront payment. Trial duration and feature scope are described on the Giganews website.

Who is Giganews for?

Giganews is a historically significant Usenet provider: over three decades active, with fully owned infrastructure, as the first SSL provider in the industry, and with VyprVPN as an integrated no-log VPN. The combination of 100+ connections, unlimited speed, 5+ years of binary retention, and dedicated 24/7 support positions Giganews as a premium option for users who value trust, operational history, and full infrastructure control.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long has Giganews been operating?

Giganews has been active since 1994 – making it one of the oldest commercial Usenet providers in the world, with over three decades of operational history.

Does Giganews operate its own servers?

Yes, Giganews operates fully owned servers and server software in North America and Europe – no reselling, no dependency on backbone third parties.

Is VyprVPN included with Giganews?

Yes, VyprVPN is included in the Giganews subscription at no extra cost. It is a no-log VPN from the associated company Golden Frog.

How many connections does Giganews allow?

Giganews provides 100+ simultaneous connections without an artificial speed cap.

What is the retention at Giganews?

Giganews offers over 5 years of binary retention (over 1,800 days) and over 18 years of text retention with access to more than 110,000 newsgroups.