§ Mr. Galeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria have been used by British Telecom in the awarding of the first European satellite channel; what criteria will be applied by British Telecom in deciding the award of the second European satellite channel; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HurdThe provision of telecommunications facilities is primarily a matter for the commercial judgment of British Telecom and Mercury. BT has leased two channels on the ECS 1 satellite, and a number of channels on other satellites, for the purpose of transmitting television signals to cable systems. I understand that in finding customers for this service, BT is seeking to use the capacity to its fullest extent, taking account of those applications that it received first.