ESB may approve joint venture deal with BT

THE board of the ESB is expected to formally approval a proposal for a Joint venture between the power company and British Telecom (BT) when it meets in midJuly.

Both parties are currently drawing up a proposal to be put before the ESB board. Once approved, the sides will thrash out the finer details of the project. It is thought that the venture could get the final go ahead at the September meeting of the board.

The ESB and BT are expected to build an alternative telephone network to compete for corporate business initially, and for residential users from the year 2000. From July 1st, telephone companies will be able to build their own networks to service corporate customers, instead of relying on Telecom for leased lines.

Alternative networks are expected to lead to substantial savings for users. Earlier this month Esat Telecom and CIE announced a joint venture to build an alternative network. It is expected that the initial phase of the ESB/BT development would cost £50 million to be funded on a 50/50 basis. Estimates are that it could generate up to £100 million in revenues within three years.

The idea is to use the ESB infrastructure to lay down a fibre optic network. The first phase would link business parks in major urban areas, large companies and those operating out of the IFSC.