KPN Telecom slashes international rates
THE HAGUE, April 28 (Reuters) - KPN Telecom NV said on Wednesday it was cutting international tariffs to 12 countries in North America and Western Europe, abolishing the difference between standard and off-peak rates.
Calls to the United States, for example, will cost 0.19 guilder per minute including VAT compared to the current standard rate of 0.45, it said in a statement.
From May 15, when the new rates are introduced, calling Germany will fall to 0.23 guilder from the present standard rate of 0.35.
In addition to the cuts in country tariffs, KPN said it was introducing even lower rates to four major European financial centres -- London, Paris, Brussels and Frankfurt.
A call to Frankfurt will cost 0.18 guilder per minute.
The reductions were made possible by KPN's joint venture with U.S. firm Qwest(QWST - news). The venture, KPNQwest, is building a fibre optic network in Europe spanning 2,100 miles (3,380 km).
KPN's access to Qwest's network in the United States and Canada has also led to cost benefits, it added.
''In addition, extra capacity can now be bought in at lower prices thanks to the ongoing liberalisation of the telecoms market in Europe and North America,'' the statement said. |
