Numericable to offer broadband to all TV customers

French cable operator Numericable is planning to offer broadband internet access to all its customers, giving pay TV-only subscribers the chance to take a 5Mbps service at no extra charge, according to local reports.

Numericable will offer the service via its digital set-tops, allowing it to offer web-based interactive TV services direct to TVs, including the ‘Best of Dailymotion’ (the France-based video site) and other video-on-demand services. Subscribers will also be able to connect their PCs to the set-top via Ethernet cable.

Numericable said the object of the offer was to democratize access to the internet while reinforcing its position in the market.