Telecom challenges New York

MCI Communications, in which British Telecom has a large stake, is planning a full range of local telephone services to business customers in New York, and 10 other US cities by the end of this year, in a challenge to the nation's regional telephone companies.

Under the new plan, MCI will offer local service, high-speed private lines used for data transmission, and special service to bypass local telephone companies in reaching long-distance carriers.