BT gives broadband away in new-subscriber push

BT has announced its latest initiative to get broadband Internet access into more UK homes.

Home subscribers to BT Openworld's service who sign up this summer will be given a month's free line rental -- saving them £29.99 over the normal cost of the service.

Anybody signing up before 30 September 2003 will qualify for the special offer.

Businesses are also being catered for with this latest raft of promotions, with BT claiming it can save small businesses as much as £260 on the cost of broadband if they sign up before the September deadline.

Pierre Danon, BT Retail chief executive, said in a statement: "now there are one million broadband customers using BT ADSL, we need to ensure that we keep the momentum going. Broadband is revolutionising the way that people use the net, both at home and at work, and our job is to make the service as compelling and as cost-effective an option as possible."

It is important for BT that it maintains the momentum that it has built up in the market after a well-publicised sluggish start.

Having hit the first milestone of one million users by 2003, BT must now press ahead if it is to hit a self-imposed five million mark by 2006.

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