BT Group said on Monday it will introduce a discounted high-speed Internet access package in the coming weeks in a concerted push to hit its ambitious goal of one million broadband customer by next summer.
BT has temporarily dubbed the new broadband package "Direct." It said it will provide full details, including prices and which markets it is intended for, on April 24.
"All I can say now is it is seen as a mass enabler for broadband. It's another way for BT to reach its goal of one million new broadband connections by next summer and five million by 2006," a company spokesman said.
The proposed offering would need approval from UK telecoms regulator Oftel, which said on Monday it would not comment on the matter until it receives more product information from BT.
Rival ISPs AOL and Freeserve said, with BT a wholesaler as well as retailer of Internet access, the product should be made available to other resellers to ensure a competitive market.
"Today's announcement raises the specter that BT could enjoy a further anti-competitive advantage by being able to promote and service its so-called 'no frills' product at marginal incremental cost to its existing retail activities," Freeserve said in a statement.
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