Europolitan to build UMTS network for all

PRESS RELEASE - Karlskrona, September 1 2000 Europolitan to build UMTS network for all * Europolitan will build a UMTS network to cover the whole of Sweden. The UMTS network could be in operation as early as the first half of 2001. * With openness as a business concept, Europolitan will open its networks to other content and service providers. * Europolitan is investing SEK 20 million in research centres at regional universities and colleges around Sweden. * The UMTS network expansion is being prioritised in six municipalities. * A service portfolio with international coverage is under development. These are the main features of Europolitan's application for a license to operate a UMTS network, which was submitted to the Swedish National Post and Telecom Agency (Post- och Telestyrelsen, PTS) on Friday, September 1 2000. "We want to continue being Sweden's best mobile telecoms network for our customers," says Jon Risfelt, Managing Director and CEO of Europolitan. "Customers must have access to our network wherever they are, and enjoy a full range of services suited to their unique needs. That's why we are prepared to undertake this major venture, which will mean that Sweden will keep its position as the world's leading IT nation." A UMTS network for the whole of Sweden According to PTS's point calculation standards, Europolitan gains top marks in terms of coverage and rate of expansion. People residing outside of major cities will be able to use UMTS services right from the start of the expansion process, and in many places, even earlier than in the cities. At the end of 2003 the entire population will be covered. "We could be one of the first operators globally to have a UMTS network in operation and we believe the first operator in Sweden," says Jon Risfelt. Openness as a business concept Internet successes have, to a great extent, emerged thanks to openness and availability to everyone - a factor that will also be important in making UMTS a successful technology. "We will establish ourselves as much as a network capacity supplier as a service provider. Through creating multiplicity and competition in the UMTS market and open access to external content and service providers customers will quickly obtain a full range of UMTS services, which will stimulate use of the network." Europolitan has already entered agreements with a number of service providers and telecoms operators, and discussions are under way with many more. Regional initiatives To be able to launch new services in quickly and on a broad front, Europolitan will work with three universities/colleges and six municipalities; to develop new services on the one hand and to test them on the other. The working relationship is being co-ordinated with Europolitan's Future Lab, and its purpose is to establish a service and know-how network for UMTS. The six municipalities will be the first to offer the new services. Research and development will be conducted at: The Luleå University of Technology - training and methodology for general st education in the 21 century Högskolan Dalarna - traffic applications The University of Karlskrona/Ronneby - security, personal integrity and charging methods. The six priority UMTS municipalities are Boden, Luleå, Norrtälje, Piteå, Älvsbyn and Karlskrona. The business communities and residential will be able to use UMTS quickly to enhance efficiency, competitiveness and quality of life for everybody. In this way, Europolitan will be able to introduce and evaluate the new technology and its services at an early stage. "We are choosing to focus on establishing a number of service development centres in a close working relationship with a number of universities around Sweden. Now that we have seen how much our collaboration with the University of Karlskrona/Ronneby has meant, we will endeavour to establish similar working relationships with many other universities. This will hopefully provide a useful contribution to the business communitive of these municipalities. This is part of our strategy to offer beneficial and useable services to our customers as soon as possible and, in so doing, quickly including customers in our network," says Jon Risfelt. Sharpening Sweden's competitive edge Europolitan has a large proportion of business customers in its base. Its working relationship with other operators in the Vodafone group means major advantages for Sweden and its business and industry. Vodafone's operator network is represented in 25 countries. "We will develop a service portfolio with international coverage," says Jon Risfelt. "This will provide Swedish export companies with an international competitive edge by using UMTS for establishing a global intranet. Also, Swedes travelling either for business or pleasure will be able to access their services or intranet in Sweden, regardless of their whereabouts, or obtain a local services profile for the country or city they are visiting." Europolitan's international connections mean possibilities for Europolitan and other Swedish service and content companies alike to offer their services in an international market. The new technology will revolutionise mobile communications and will greatly affect how we live, work, and communicate. It is most important that everybody has access to the technology and know how to use it. Europolitan will therefore create an educational package on how best to use the new mobile services. Everyone in Sweden will be able to access and use the programmes. Europolitan AB is a Swedish GSM operator that prioritises service and quality. The company's head office is in Karlskrona, Sweden. Europolitan is a leader in the field of technically advanced services for GSM 900/1800. The Europolitan Group, which also includes the stock market listed parent company Europolitan Holdings AB and Europolitan's sister companies, Europolitan Stores AB, Ocom AB and Doberman AB, has around 1,200 employees. For more information, please visit www.europolitan.se. For more information, please contact: Jon Risfelt, President and CEO, Europolitan Tel: +46 708 33 10 01, e-mail: jon.risfelt@europolitan.se Bo Johannisson, Strategic Business Development Manager, Europolitan Tel: +46 708 33 18 04, e-mail: bo.johannisson@europolitan.se Johan Holmgren, Public Relations Manager, Europolitan Tel: +46 708 33 14 00, e-mail: johan.holmgren@europolitan.se ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/09/01/20000901BIT00950/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/09/01/20000901BIT00950/bit0002.pdf