BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- AT&T Inc. on Wednesday set a long-term target for its TV service, which is delivered over phone lines, saying it will be available to 30 million customers by 2010.

    The announcement by chief executive Randall Stephenson reinforces AT&T's commitment to the service, known as U-verse. Recent news reports said the United States-based company was in talks to acquire satellite TV broadcaster EchoStar Corp., which would have given the company a different route to reach customers.

    Stephenson told analysts the new target includes customers in the Southeastern states formerly served by BellSouth Corp., which AT&T acquired late last year.

    The U-verse launch has been delayed several times. A month ago, AT&T trimmed its coverage target for the end of next year to 17 million homes from 18 million. The delay was due to a shift in resources to the former BellSouth.

    AT&T expects to spend between 4.5 billion U.S. dollars and 5 billion dollars on U-verse through 2008.

    (Agencies)

BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- AT&T Inc. on Wednesday set a long-term target for its TV service, which is delivered over phone lines, saying it will be available to 30 million customers by 2010.

    The announcement by chief executive Randall Stephenson reinforces AT&T's commitment to the service, known as U-verse. Recent news reports said the United States-based company was in talks to acquire satellite TV broadcaster EchoStar Corp., which would have given the company a different route to reach customers.

    Stephenson told analysts the new target includes customers in the Southeastern states formerly served by BellSouth Corp., which AT&T acquired late last year.

    The U-verse launch has been delayed several times. A month ago, AT&T trimmed its coverage target for the end of next year to 17 million homes from 18 million. The delay was due to a shift in resources to the former BellSouth.

    AT&T expects to spend between 4.5 billion U.S. dollars and 5 billion dollars on U-verse through 2008.

    (Agencies)