Kansai firms to offer cable-based Internet service

OSAKA -- Kansai Electric Power Co., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and 16 other firms will set up a company to provide Internet service using cable TV networks in the Kansai region, it was announced here March 16.

Using the networks of about 20 cable TV companies in Osaka and Kobe, Kansai Multimedia Service Co. will provide high-speed Internet connection services at lower costs and help local companies to set up their World Wide Web sites, officials of the firms said.

Using large-scale volume cables (192 kbps and faster), subscribers will have unlimited Internet access at a total monthly cost of 6,500 yen. The services will start this fall. Internet users in Japan usually pay 4,000 yen to 11,000 yen a month, including provider service fees and dial-up costs, the officials said. Based in Osaka's Nishi Ward, the new company is capitalized at 1 billion yen. Other major investors include Sumitomo Corp.