9 million homes ready for broadband now. By end 2002, 11.6 million homes will be broadband-capable

NTL Incorporated, and Telewest, the UK’s leading cable companies, have created a co-marketing initiative aimed at accelerating the take-up of broadband services throughout Britain. It will run until mid September and is designed to highlight the benefits of broadband internet to consumers throughout the UK and Ireland. Telewest and NTL offer digital customers broadband internet which connects home PCs, via a robust cable modem, to their state-of-the-art fibre optic networks from around £25 per month. This always-on service produces internet access speeds of nearly ten times faster than a standard modem (512 kbps vs 56 kbps) and removes the current frustrations with dial-up internet. BT charges £39.99 per month for ADSL. Broadband cable is available today in 9 million homes –covering 37% of the UK and Ireland – and by the end of 2002 this number will have increased to 11.6 million homes, representing virtually all of NTL’s and Telewest’s serviceable areas. NTL has already committed to invest £50 million over the next two years to upgrade the London network it acquired from Cable and Wireless Communications which means that broadband services will be available from October 2001.