Cable Online Ltd, a UK spin-off from New York-based cable television provider CableTel Inc, has launched an Internet access service that it claims will offer unprecedented levels of accessibility and take it to the number one position in the UK Internet market within two years. The company will offer full Internet access for ú12.95 per month with a ú20 sign-on charge and no additional on-line charges. A toll-free 0800 number will offer free technical support. The company claims 99% of calls will be answered and that ‘server busy’ messages will appear only 1% of the time. The service will start with 15 points of presence in the UK, but according to operations manager Greg Baker, this will be increased to around 70 across the country by the middle of next year. International links includes a 768Kbps leased line from Sprint Corp linking to Washington, with a New York link planned for later this year. Cable Online also plans to offer Internet access services on a wholesale basis, and said it is in discussions with a number of cable television companies and other organisations that are interested in reselling the Cable Online service under their own brand. Baker described the interested parties as including cybercafes and companies that wish to offer different Internet services.
