This time in '99: BT changes policy and launches free ISP

In our new "This time in '99" series, we take a daily look back at the agenda-setting stories as they were 12 months ago. We'll also cast an eye over the most influential news "This week in '99" every Friday in the video news bulletin

After launching BT Click+, the hotly debated 'pay-as-you-surf' Internet access scheme, in September 1998, BT returned to the news under five months later with a revised vision for its Internet strategy.
This is how the original story broke on 10 February 1999: BT's flat-rate Internet service, BT Click+ became the latest Internet service provider (ISP) to stop charging for access today. The service - renamed BTClickFree - is joined by LineOne, a subsidiary partly owned by the telco, which has also stopped charging for subscription. Some observers are claiming the news marks a complete change of policy for the British telecoms giant. The launch of free access services from electronics retailer, Dixons, and supermarket chain, Tesco, late last year provoked an angry reaction from BT. The telco claimed its network would be compromised by users flocking to get online. Clive Longbottom, strategy consultant at CSL, told Silicon.com: "This is an example of sheer ineptitude on the part of BT - they clearly don't know what they're up to." Nicholas Lansman, secretary general of the Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA), said he was surprised by the move and wanted to know how BT though they could fund the service. BT's complaints against Dixons and Tesco have led to telecoms regulator, Oftel, committing itself to a full scale enquiry into the growing number of free ISP services and their effect on the market. BT's own service is now likely to come under Oftel's scrutiny. A spokesman for Oftel confirmed the BT-provoked investigations will still go ahead. A BT spokesman said the launch of BTClickFree is separate to the telco's complaints to Oftel and denied the existence of inconsistencies in company policy. He was unable to comment on further issues. For additional information on related stories see:
'ISPs speak out over BT 'pay-as-you-surf' service' (http://www.silicon.com/a21944 )
'Oftel gives BT 'pay-as-you-surf' the OK' (http://www.silicon.com/a23916 )
'BTClick+ goes live' (http://www.silicon.com/a24770 )
'Oftel launches Net access investigation' (http://www.silicon.com/a27950 )
'Heavyweights clash over telco Web charges' (http://www.silicon.com/a28297 )