ICL appoints Energis to run BBC Online

ICL is to run its corporate Internet service, ICLnet, over Energis' telecoms network, in a deal worth #2.5m a year.

The initial contract will run for 15 months. ICL will use Energis' Inbound service for customers dialling into its site, who will be charged just the price of a local call.

ICLnet will provide a range of services including BBC Online, a commercial offering announced by ICL and the BBC in September, and due to go live in the spring. It will include news, sport, information and entertainment via the Web.

The key factor in awarding the contract to Energis was its promise to guarantee response times. Also important was its ability to offer dial site delivery to ICL's centres in Bracknell, Berkshire and Kidsgrove, Staffordshire.

John Skelton, head of product management at Energis, said: "This contract strengthens Energis' leading position in the ISP market, which it revolutionised when it introduced fixed pricing in 1994. This allows ISPs to forecast their largest overhead, telecoms costs, based on the number of subscribers rather than the level of traffic."