Blair Opens Way For BT Superhighway

Tony Blair’s speech yesterday at the Labour party conference means that should Labour get elected they would open the way to an “information superhighway” earlier than it could happen now. He announced details of a deal with BT, in which BT and other telecommunications companies will be able provide broadcast entertainment services in competition with cable companies.

Under the deal the cable companies would be allowed phased access to the entertainment market from the election of a labour government, rather than waiting until 2001. This is the current date set for the review promised by the government. Under Blair’s deal, full competition would follow in 2002. Cable companies had exclusive right to broadcast entertainment under existing regulations in order to encourage the market.

In return for access to the entertainment market, BT will connect every school, college, hospital and library at its own cost.