NTL, the company which transmits Channel 3, Channel 4 and most independent radio stations has been acquired by CableTel Limited, the UK’s third largest cable operator, for approximately £200m. The combination will create a national, full service telecommunications network claimed to be the first of its kind anywhere in the world.
The alliance will connect NTL’s high capacity national network to CableTel’s local loop fibre-optic systems; this means the alliance will be the first competitor in the UK market with end-to-end broadband capabilities covering the full range of voice, video and data services.
CableTel is installing broadband local networks providing telephone, television and telecommunications services to domestic and business customers in its 6 franchise areas of Central Scotland, Northern Ireland, South Wales, Surrey and Hampshire, Befordshire and Hertfordshire, and West Yorkshire.
Commenting on the sale, Andrew Sukawaty, Chief Executive of NTL said, “Becoming part of CableTel will enable us to grow more aggressively both geographically and in the range of services offered.”
Together, NTL and CableTel will offer a broad range of entertainment, information, telecoms and other transmission/broadcast services. NTL is a world leader in digital technology, and the combined companies “are dedicated to aggressively pursuing these new services”.
In information services, the acquisition will extend the reach and capacity of CableTel’s national Internet access service, Cable Online. The broadband capabilities will make the combined companies “well suited to advanced interactive services.”
There are no plans to change the structures of the two organisations as a result of the acquisition; NTL will retain its headquarters near Winchester and CableTel will maintain its Guildford headquarters.
NTL: 01962 822582
