The trials mark the first instance in which the two companies have actively begun welcoming outside rivals onto Time Warner's high-speed cable network. The companies are trying to assuage regulatory concerns that the merger would stifle competition and offer consumers fewer choices of broadband carriers. AOL and Time Warner have made gestures toward opening their cable lines once the deal closes. The companies issued a memorandum of understanding in February, stating their intention to allow rival services onto their cable lines. Cable Internet access has become a highly contentious issue among corporate giants wrestling to offer high-speed interactive services to households.
Cable allows faster Internet speeds than traditional dial-up connections via the telephone.
Consumers also get always-on connections with cable, and operators can offer an array of services bundling TV programming with Internet access and even telephone. But most operators have kept their networks closed to outside providers. Those efforts ended after the acquisition was announced. Some congressional leaders have expressed skepticism of AOL and Time Warner's assurances. Meanwhile, company executives have hinted that a deal to offer AOL service on Time Warner's cable network is near.