T-Online expects less to be lost

NEWS T-Online, the ISP division of Deutsche Telekom, expects to report narrower full-year losses after its German unit turned a third quarter profit ahead of time. The European ISP said it now expects a 2001 loss of E200m (£124m) - before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (ebitda). It had previously expected to post full-year losses of E230m (£143m). While German operations reached profitability two quarters earlier than expected, acquisition costs in France, Spain and Switzerland saw Q3 EBDTA loss rise to E35.5m (£22.1m). Third quarter net loss jumped to E116m (£72m), from a E58m (£36m) loss in the same quarter last year. The company said it will put further acquisitions on hold to focus on breaking even by 2003.