BT Communications Services Inc., an affiliate of British Telecommunications PLC, will launch new international services for corporate users beginning in February, officials of the BT group announced on Monday.
The new services, which will bear the brand name of "Harmonix," include direct international telephone services, international private leased circuits and wholesale voice services to resellers, they said.
"BT is committed to the Japanese market for a long term. We will develop our existing businesses and also move to build new partnerships with Japanese companies. I'm sure the underlying strength of the Japanese industry will help reverse the current economic trend," said Alfred Mockett, president of BT Global, which handles the international operation of British Telecommunications PLC.
The company plans to gradually expand its range of services in Japan. Among planned services are a telephone service for consumers with an access code of 0075, available in March, and products related to electronic commerce, available in late 1999, they said.
BTCS will offer these services as a so-called Type 1 carrier, which owns its own telecommunication facilities. The firm plans to build an optical fiber network in central Tokyo by December 1999, covering Chiyoda, Chuo, Minato and Shinjuku wards, where many companies are located, they said.
BT Network Information Services Inc., another unit of the BT group in Japan, currently offers telephone and Internet services as a special Type 2 carrier, which provides services over leased telecommunication facilities. BT NIS will continue its services under the same brand name as that of BTCS, the officials said.
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