Oftel has admitted that it was hoodwinked by the discredited ISP, AltaVista.

Speaking on BBC radio the winged watchdog's DG, Dave Edmonds, said: "I assumed that, as a reputable company, they [AltaVista] had a proper business plan."

He admitted that he took AltaVista's promises at "face value" and would now be a little more careful when talking to the private sector.

The Register wonders whether this new-found scepticism and nous will be extended to Oftel's dealings with BT. ®