UK number two cable company Telewest Communications Plc has firmly stated plans to offer high speed internet access over cable in the UK from the first half of 1999, which could shake up the role of the cable companies by giving them another competitive edge over UK incumbent British Telecommunications Plc. Telewest is keeping tight-lipped about the details, and will only confirm that it is in negotiation with a number of companies for the services, both equipment and content. The possibilities are that it will form equipment buying consortium with the two other UK cable companies Cable & Wireless Communications Plc and NTL Inc, or alternatively the three may form a joint venture to supply internet over cable services, like the US cable companies have already done. All three UK companies have confirmed negotiations at some point with one of the US internet over cable suppliers either @Home Network Corp or Time Warner Inc’s Roadrunner. But for now Telewest is keeping mum, only suggesting that some kind of tie up with its interactive digital TV services is possible.
