ntl:home customers in five areas have reportedly been notified by the cable giant that they will not be able to receive the ntlworld dialup internet service.

The five areas include Southampton, which is a former Videotron network. In a letter to subscribers, ntl:home explains that their ntlworld service is incompatible with the Videotron network, and then apologises for not being able to offer the service at this time. ntl:home is unable to say if or when the service will be rolled out in these areas; and the current financial crisis surrounding the company makes network upgrades even less likely to happen in the short to mid-term. The cable giant is trying to drastically reduce capital expenditure in order to ensure it has cash remaining through 2003 when it expects to turn a profit.