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NTL to resume roll out by June
Wednesday, March 28 2001
by Rory Kelleher


NTL will resume the roll out of its Irish digital and broadband network by June
of this year, ElectricNews.Net has learned.

A spokeswoman for NTL said the company had "no comment" to make on the matter.
She said that NTL would shortly be announcing the results of the business review
of its Irish operations.

In January the company unexpectedly announced that it was delaying the rollout of
its digital television and Internet broadband network until it had completed a
full review of its Irish operations.

Under its licence NTL is committed to supplying more than 100,000 homes in its
franchised areas with digital services by the end of March.

A spokeswoman for the ODTR said that no decision had been made on what would be
done if NTL did not meet this target because the regulator, Etain Doyle was still
in discussions with the company.

The sanctions that could be imposed include a suspension or revocation of the
licence, a reduction of the exclusivity period allowed under the licence, or
fines could be imposed.

However, it is understood that under the licence from the director of
telecommunications regulation that the company has a grace period of six months
after that date to meet this target.

The company denied reports at the weekend that it was selling its Irish
operations for IEP380 million around IEP150 million less than the US-based cable
company had paid for the business two years ago.

The tough economic environment for telecoms and cable operators has been blamed
for the group's decision to delay its IEP350 million Irish investment in the new
network infrastructure.

It is believed that by last month only 36,000 of the NTL's customers had digital
services.

This means it is unlikely the company will meet the terms of its licence.

The company have said it is committed to the Irish market and plan to invest in
the construction of a new Irish headquarters here.