Fixed operator strategy N55

Tiscali France is for sale. Three contenders are still bidding for the French ISP. Telecom

Italia seems in best position (after Cegetel gives up), but DT and Neuf Telecom are also in

the race. The rumour says the value of the deal could be around € 250 to € 300m.

BT will introduce an 8-Mbit/s DSL broadband service soon. It will also expand its Ethernet

services into the WAN in key European cities.

DT T-Com will invest € 250m in new products and focus only on products which are

actually used frequently by customers. T-Com will test WiMAX (probably with Alvarion) and

25 Mbps DSL services.

Tiscali is first ISP to offer Quality of Service over DSL.

China Telecom has received a license to operate cyber cafes in its 26 provinces.

AOL will rollout next month a consumer VOIP application as part of its popular Internet

services bundle.

Level3 is buying 360networks' nationwide long-haul transport network.

MCI announced the deployment of 3,100 route miles of ULH (Ultra Long Haul) DWDM

technology nationwide.

Swisscom will test VDSL technology this summer. The target is to deploy VDSL to half

the population by 2007.

FT is also testing VDSL transmission in complement of its current 20Mbit/s ADSL2+

service.

Telstra will deploy ADSL2+ technology in its network. The investment is worth $165m.