By Tony Hallett, 8 July 1998 06:31
NEWS France Telecom is to take an 80 per cent controlling stake in French Internet service provider (ISP) NordNet. However, consolidation among French ISPs - partly driven by France Telecom's recent Internet drive - could spell the end for one of the country's best-loved technologies, the national information system, Minitel. Financial details of the NordNet deal have not been disclosed, but France Telecom claimed the acquisition will reinforce the company's position as 'the Net company', serving all regions of France. Earlier this year, the former state telco purchased 67 per cent of Oleane, another ISP, and further acquisitions have not been ruled out. Groupe Goto Informatique will own the other 20 per cent of NordNet. Daniel Bieler, New Media consultant at Ovum, said the ISP market in France will grow dramatically. He added: "When France Telecom launched Minitel in the late 70s, it was an advanced technology and the French loved it. But now - as this move shows - France Telecom is seriously starting to offer Net access and Minitel is definitely on its way out."
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