Cable-television company expanding its horizons into the world of the internet

Poland's largest cable-television company Polska Telewizja Kablowa (PTK) has received permission to provide internet services through its cable network. Currently, United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) owned PTK reaches over 1.7 million households, of which over one million uses its services. "Connection through our network will be quicker than traditional dial-up and we will offer permanent subscriptions regardless of the number of hours spent surfing the web. We are modernizing our networks in Warsaw and Krakow, and will offer internet services to these towns by the end of this year,"said UPC Polska deputy-president Marek Sowa. UPC plans to spend about $8 million this year, $20 million next year, and a total of between $80 million and $100 million over the next five years modernizing the telecom network. PTK will offer internet access through its dependent-partnership Chello Broadband. The rate for using the internet in Poland is the second-most expensive in the world after Japan. Analysts says this is due to the monopolistic position of Telekomunikacja Polska S.A. (TPSA). (Gazeta Wyborcza, July 29-31, page 26) M.M.