Bredbandsbolaget's (B2 Bredband) consortium awarded UMTS-license

Bredbandsbolaget's (B2 Bredband) consortium awarded UMTS-license Today PTS decided to award the Orange consortium a permit to build a countrywide mobile telephone network based on the UMTS standard. Bredbandsbolaget holds 30% of the Orange consortium, Orange Sverige AB, and has initiated a strategic cooperation with Orange. Bredbandsbolaget is a pioneer in the quickly evolving broadband industry and will in the future be able to offer mobile broadband services to its customers. "Sweden will now get to know a very exciting new mobile operator - Orange, in cooperation with its owner France Telecom. This will certainly increase the competition in the market - for the benefit of the consumer. Orange and France Telecom have shown great interest in Bredbandsbolaget's innovative technology and business model", says Jan Stenberg, Chairman of Bredbandsbolaget. "We are delighted. For Bredbandsbolaget, the UMTS license will mean that we over time will be able to complement our broadband customer offering with new and exciting mobile services. This is good for us, and even better for our customers", says Jan Morten Ruud, Chief Executive Officer of Bredbandsbolaget. For further information, please contact: Ulrika Andersson, Director of PR and Information, Bredbandsbolaget, Tel: +46-8-406 95 00, +46-733-81 99 02 About Bredbandsbolaget B2 Bredband AB is a leading broadband communications company providing 10 megabits per second, fiber-optic network access, and related broadband services primarily to residential as well as small- and medium-sized business customers. Bredbandsbolaget is currently rolling out an extensive fiber-optic network linking key metropolitan areas in Sweden and Norway. Within these metropolitan areas, B2 is extending fiber-optic networks to customers' buildings and switched Ethernet networks within customers' buildings. In cooperation with its content and service partners, including NTL, Framfab, and Cisco, B2 will be launching services such as IP television, video-on-demand and pay-as-you-use services. These will be offered through its specially designed interactive customer broadband interface, or portal. Bredbandsbolaget operates in Sweden and Norway and intends to expand the development of its network and service offers throughout Europe. Bredbandsbolaget was founded in 1998 and currently employs more than 300 persons, with its network installed in 67,400 homes as at October 31, 2000. NTL is the largest investor, with a 25% stake in the company. Other investors include Framfab, Intel, Investor, and the Carlyle Group. Website: www.bredband.com ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/12/16/20001216BIT00240/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/12/16/20001216BIT00240/bit0002.pdf