ISPA WARNS BT’S NEW ‘CLICK’ SERVICE COULD TURN PEOPLE OFF INTERNET
16 July 1998
ISPA, the UK Internet Service Providers Association, has sent a letter of complaint to Oftel concerning British Telecom’s (BT) plans to offer instant Internet Access for 1p a minute, with a new service called ‘Click’.
ISPA members have asked Oftel to investigate this latest offer from BT which they believe is not only anti-competitive but also potentially damaging to the Internet industry and the development of electronic-commerce in the UK.
In a letter to Oftel’s Director General, Mr David Edmonds, ISPA expressed concern about level of customer support that BT planned to provide, for their Click service, which is targeted at new users. ISPA warned that inexperienced Internet users, who had difficulty configuring their connection using BT’s new service, might be put off the Internet. If potential Internet users are not properly assisted in their efforts to get on-line, this could slow down the development of on-line commercial activity in the UK.
ISPA also expressed concern to Oftel that BT’s proposed new Internet service did not require customers to register their names. Laurence Blackall, ISPA’s Chairman and MD of Global Internet, explained that registration provides for accountability which discourages anonymous use of the Internet for circulation of harmful and illegal material or the sending of junk e-mail (spam).
David Kennedy, ISPA's Chief Executive, was concerned BT's proposed new service could reduce competition in the Internet market. He said that "ISPA is very concerned that there may be hidden cross-subsidies distorting fair competition, allowing a dominant telecoms operator to damage independent service providers irreparably. If so, urgent action is needed before it becomes too late for any meaningful redress."
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Notes for Editors
The Internet Services Providers Association was set up in February 1995 to represent companies in the Internet sector.
Further information and a list of ISPA members can be found on our ISPA web-site: http://www.ispa.org.uk
For more information, please contact Nicholas Lansman or Rachel Blank
on 0171 976 0679