And hot on the heels of Network Information, Global VAN Japan Inc has also put in a request to the Ministry for permission to start a service to the UK later this month: it will link to British Telecom through US Sprint Communications’ Telenet Communications Corp packet network and offer the same range of services at similar prices to those of Network Information; Global VAN Japan is owned 16% by Japan Air Lines Co Ltd, 13% by Tokyo Electric Power Co and 5% by Bank of Tokyo.