T-Online changes tack and heads for UK waters

Thomas Holtrop, new CEO of German ISP T-Online, has addressed his company's shareholders for the first time and announced a series of initiatives to move the company out of the red - including a proposed move into the UK market.

Holtrop said he wants T-Online to achieve a third of its total turnover from its portal business after growth within the business showed page impressions increase threefold to 380 million. Holtrop said such growth will enable the company to increase the money the portal raises through advertising and online sales. Holtrop also announced changes in the company's pricing and services with the introduction of new bundle offers and the abolition of flat rate analogue access. The flat rate offer T-Online had in place was previously proving too costly a loss-leader. T-Online is also holding fast to its internationalisation strategy. The Deutsche Telekom subsidiary has so far only secured a small presence in France and Spain but is also eyeing a return to the UK market after initial advances last year proved wholly unsuccessful. By Christian M. Wagner. reporter, silicon.de