British Telecommunications Plc has outlined its plans for the introduction of its integrated services digital network ISDN 2, with the first phase starting this month. From this week, British Telecom is committed to making a larger number of 64Kbps lines available for testing and development work, to increase the number of manufacturers – currently standing at nine – and customers who wish to test their ISDN applications; during the test and development phase, the tariff for the two digital exchange lines required will be UKP130 per quarter each, with calls charged at telephone call rates. From the end of July, the market development phase will make more lines available in various business areas around the country, with British Telecom working with customers and manufacturers to establish pilot configurations, manage the migration to ISDN, and provide links to the ISDN services in the US, Japan and France; during this period, lines will cost UKP400 each for connection with a yearly rental of UKP336; call charges will be as before, with value-added services such as caller identification available free of charge. The start of 1991 is intended to see ISDN introduced on a national scale, with connection to all business areas and high streets linked to a digital exchange promised by the end of the year. British Telecom is to offer a help desk to deal with queries associated with each phase of the introduction; this service will be free during the first year.
