Microsoft and AT&T in cable link

By Lachlan Colquhoun
Updated: 00:00 BST, 27 June 2000

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American （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） and telecoms heavyweights AT&T and Microsoft have made その上の 急襲s into Japan, 明らかにする／漏らすing a 合併 of their Japanese cable 資産s in a 取引，協定 潜在的に valued at $5bn(£3.3bn).

The American companies 持つ／拘留する 株 in Japan's two t op 階級d cable television 操作者s, Jupiter 遠隔通信s and Titus Communications, which have 明かすd a 合併 by way of a 株 交換（する）, to 施行される from 1 September. A 部分的な／不平等な market float could follow, with 分析家s 示唆するing the new company could be 価値（がある） up to $5bn.

The move would create a new company with around 750,000 加入者s and 28 cable 操作／手術s throughout Japan, 提起する／ポーズをとるing a new challenge to NTT as the lines between cable services, telecoms and the internet start to blur. The 合併 gives the two American companies 有利な立場（位置） in the race to 強固にする／合併する／制圧する the cable market in Japan, which is immature by British and US 基準s.

The 産業 consists of more than 600 small, 独立した・無所属 操作者s servicing 地元の areas and niche markets, and without the 基金s to 投資する in new 世代 数字表示式の 器具／備品 necessary for interactive services. The 合併 upstages 計画（する）s by Hong Kong internet upstart 太平洋の Century Cyberworks, which last week 発表するd a $14m 投資 in the cable 子会社 of Japanese company Tomen.

分析家s say that the Titus-Jupiter 取引，協定 could also create a company with the ability to challenge NTT's dominance, just as the company's high 料金s are coming under 増加するd 批評 for 封鎖するing the 開発 of high-速度(を上げる） internet 接近 and the new economy in Japan. Microsoft has just taken 60% of Titus, while Jupiter is 40% owned by AT&T 部隊 Liberty マスコミ, 長，率いるd by John Malone.

Under the structure of the 取引，協定, Titus will continue to 存在する as a wholly-owned 子会社 of Jupiter. Liberty and Japanese 貿易（する）ing house Sumitomo will each 持つ／拘留する 35% of the 合併するd company, while Microsoft will 持つ／拘留する 24%. Other 株主s will 含む Itocho Corp and Toshiba with 3% each.