BT announces internet deals before release of poor results

BT ISP Openworld is to be service provider for the 20,000 customers of rival Sky's ONdigital internet-on-television service.

Open, Sky's interactive digital television service, of which BT owns 20 per cent, will run an inhouse trial of BT's Ignite service offering voice, video and data over IP.

Scottish and Southern Energy will sell over BT Openworld and offer significant savings on gas and electricity and discounts of 'up to 20 per cent' on a range of 1,000 appliances.

BT is tomorrow expected to announce profits down by around half and could announce at least part of its plans to reduce debt, by selling some of its stakes in various telcos worldwide, offering part of Cellnet to the public and the long-signalled float or partial float of Yellow Pages.

In the past couple of years, BT has accumulated share holdings around the world, including minority stakes in SmarTone Telecoms of Hong Kong, LG Telecom of South Korea, 26 per cent of Cegetel in France, 49 per cent of Airtel in Spain and others.

Last week, Philip Hampton joined BT as finance director from British Gas, where he is credited with running its successful dismemberment.