MCI Communications Corp says it plans a sweeping Internet initiative that includes tripling the capacity of its internetMCI network and expanding its consumer Internet offerings, as well as new pricing to rival competitor AT&T Corp. It plans to offer its long distance customers five free hours of Internet access per month, and unlimited access for $19.95 per month, in an offer similar to AT&T Corp’s WorldNet service. The consumer Internet access offer is a promotional deal that runs through May 31; after that, customers will pay $9.95 for a five-hour service plan. AT&T’s Internet deal includes five free hours a month for a full year for any long-distance customer that applies for its service in 1996. MCI says that as part of the initiative, which it calls MCI Internet 2000, it plans to provide more value-added Internet services and plans to triple the capacity of its Internet backbone network by mid-April by upgrading the speed of its network to 155Mbps from 45Mbps.
