AXS Telecom, a candidate for an operator’s license in France, said Friday that it would invest approximately $140m (FF 850m) in the next five years to build an intelligent voice-data network. On her inaugural visit to Milia, the new media show in Cannes, on Sunday, French minister of culture and communications Catherine Trautmann said 1998 should be the year we see the development of a multimedia market and the year of the Internet for the general public. To that end, she reiterated how the government intends to foster the development. The National Cinematography Center will have 25m francs in financing ($4m) in 1998 to develop CD ROM titles and online programs. I’ve also asked the CNC to adapt French works into other languages, she said. She added that electronic publishing initiatives from the written press will have access to approximately $3m (FF 20m) in financing this year.
