Thu 31 Aug 2006
New Zealand’s largest ISP Xtra now blocks inbound Port 25 traffic by default when you set up an ADSL account with them. So, unless you specifically ask them to open this port, your mail server will not be able to receive email from other mail servers.
Like a lot of the actions Telecom (Xtra’s parent company) takes this is one part crass commercial exploitation and one part showmanship. It makes using Xtra’s own mail server the path of least resistance and this adds to Xtra’s revenues. It is also a token gesture against Spammers.
Xtra blocking inbound mail has some irony for us as Xtra’s network is a source of a huge amount of Spam to our customers. They have, to date, shown little energy to remedy this.