Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/1999/11/12/two_cheers_for_bts_latest/

Two cheers for BT's latest tariff

UK Net sector shakes head in disbelief

By Tim Richardson

Posted in On-Prem, 12th November 1999 13:15 GMT

BT's bid to "slash the cost of Internet access" has been received as well as a vegan addressing a get-together of abattoir owners on their annual works outing to Bognor. Far from causing a hot flush of excitement among ISPs, it appears to have left most lukewarm about BT's "dramatic" offering. It seems that the ISP marketplace is deciding that BT's offer is simply not worth getting excited about. Jerry Speller, spokesman for telco Energis, which has interests in ISPs Freeserve and Planet Online, among others, said: "No one has been beating a path to our door to match BT's offering. "It's an indication that ISPs simply aren't interested in BT proposals." A spokeswoman for AOL UK said the Net company would not be looking to take-up BT's offer. Indeed, AOL UK will be lodging its concerns over BT's plans with the telecomms watchdog, Oftel. Simon Preston of Telinco, which hosts services including Strayduck and Bun.com, said: "I don't understand what [BT is] trying to do -- it doesn't make much sense." Elsewhere, a spokesman for Demon said that they were looking at it "very closely" but the ISP was not leaping to any conclusions. The most positive reaction came from Nabil Shabka, MD and founder of London-based ISP, BiblioTech. "I might be interested -- but I'll have to wait until I see something concrete," he said. ® Related Stories ISPs lash out at BT BT's knockers reject flat-rate plans BT's Bonfield: No free local calls BT's U-turn could drive competitors off the road BT U-turns on unmetered Net access Oftel calls for cheaper Net access