TPSA to improve IT quality, could float TP Internet

Telekomunikacja Polska S.A. (TPSA) plans to dramatically improve the quality of its Internet connection this year and is considering floating its subsidiary TP Internet on the stock exchange within three years. "We shall increase our broadband network capacity eightfold this year," said TPSA president Pawel Rzepka. The company plans to improve both its standard call-in Internet service, as well as the flat fee one. TP Internet will focus on consumer Internet services (B2C and C2C), based on the Wirtualna Polska portal, Poland's second largest, in which TPSA is seeking a 50% stake. TPSA president said that TP Internet could be floated on the stock exchange within three years, but this is not a must, as the company is not forced to obtain external capital for its financing. He added that TP Internet is expected to break even in 2002. Rzepka also said that the price of Internet access in Poland will be coming down, but gave no specific details. (Rzeczpospolita, June 9-10, p. B3) T.J.