A Spanish newspaper has reported that BT is to buy the Spanish Internet service provider Arrakis for an undisclosed sum. The financial daily newspaper, Cinco Dias, said an announcement is due at the beginning of January. But a spokesman for BT refused to shed any light on the proposed deal. "We do not comment on rumour or speculation," he said. He did confirm, however, that BT was very active in Europe and had a number of business interests in Spain, including the country's second largest data communications network. Arrakis has around 85,000 users and posted sales of one billion pesetas (£4.4 million) in 1997.®