UPC To Offer Internet Access In Poland By Year-End

"By then we want to be offering high-speed Internet access to some 80 percent of our PTK (Polska Telewizja Kablowa) subscribers in those two cities," Bruce M. Massey, UPC_s managing director for Poland told Reuters after a news conference. Earlier during the conference Dutch-based United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) said it would invest up to $10 million this year to upgrade its current cable structure in Poland. Last year UPC bought Poland_s largest cable network PTK which currently services more than 700,000 households for some $1.2 billion. Under the deal UPC also bought one of Poland_s two digital television services Wizja TV. The D-DTH (digital-direct-to-home) television platform currently has more than 300,000 subscribers, UPC said. Before UPC starts offering its Internet services, it needs to be cleared for data transmission by Poland_s telecommunications ministry. Massey said he hoped the appropriate licence will be granted "within days or weeks."