BT Confirms Free Internet Access Launch

BT has today confirmed the launch of a free internet service, BT ClickFree, following the lead set by Dixons’ Freeserve in September (see DoubleClick To Sell Ad Space On UK’s Fastest-Growing ISP). As part of the service BT has teamed up with Value Direct to allow customers to shop online; information and entertainment content will be provided by Excite.

John Swingewood, BT’s director of internet and multimedia, says: “BT has introduced ClickFree in response to customer demand for a free service.”

Since launch, Freeserve has built up over one million customers making it the UK’s largest internet service provider (ISP). Tesco recently launched a free access service for its ten million Clubcard holders (see Tesco Introduces Free Internet Access) and the Internet Technology Group also unveiled a free access service last week (see Internet Technology Group To Rival Dixon’s And Tesco’s Free Web Access).

Alongside these developments, the telecommunications watchdog, OFTEL, is about to issue a consultation over the current system of distributing the money made from phone calls, currently a main source of revenue for free ISPs (see OFTEL Consultations To Examine ISP Phone Pricing).

BT Corporate Newsroom: 0171 356 5369