The UK yesterday formally freed 44 additional international full service telephony providers to begin offering service, noting that it had now completed what the rest of Europe intends to embark on this time next year. AT&T Corp and the Global One alliance of Deutsche Telekom AG, France Telecom and Sprint Corp are among those licensed to offer full service in competition with British Telecommunications Plc and Mercury Communications Ltd. Phone prices are down 40% overall since 1984 and I expect these new licensees to put further downward pressure on international rates, said Trade & Industry Secretary of State Ian Taylor.
