HiQ to develop telephony in StjärnTV's broad band network

HiQ to develop telephony in StjärnTV's broad band network IT- and management consultancy HiQ has been commissioned by StjärnTV, which is part of United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC), to assist the company in a project to develop its operator business and provide new telephony services in Sweden. UPC is investing in developing Europe's cable networks into advanced broadband networks that not only transmit cable TV, but also provide Internet and telephony services. "The assignment involves establishing a technical platform for telephony within StjärnTV's existing infrastructure. HiQ has considerable experience of telecoms work, and particularly of the various stages involved in added value projects. We will be able to put our skills to good use," says Bo Ringdahl, Key Account Manager at HiQ. "We offer our customers a broadband-based telephony service. This will be the first time that customers are not dependent on Telia's existing copper lines for access," says Gunnar Asp, MD of StjärnTV. "StjärnTV customers can already subscribe to our Internet service "chello", via the cable network," he continues. HiQ's management assignment involves project managing the setting up of telephony services for Stjärn TV. Apart from cable TV and the Internet, the range of services is now to be supplemented with telephony services mainly aimed at private, but also at corporate customers. "At the moment, we have several assignments for UPC, both in Sweden and overseas, consolidating HiQ's position in the international arena. HiQ has focused on developing operator businesses, as well as telephony and computer services, since it started operations, and we now have a wide range of skills to offer companies like StjärnTV and UPC who want to establish themselves in new markets and new customer segments," concludes Ringdahl. For more information, please contact: Bo Ringdahl, Key Account Manager HiQ, tel: +46 8 588 90 000 Gunnar Asp, MD of StjärnTV, tel: +46 8 578 251 92, mobile: +46 709 26 51 92 HiQ is an IT and management consultancy focusing on high-tech communication and simulation solutions. Formed in 1992, HiQ is now a leader in these fields and the Nordic region is its domestic market. The Group's net sales in 1998 were SEK 152 million and it employs 250 people in Stockholm, Arboga, Gothenburg and Oslo. HiQ has been listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange O-list. For more information please visit, www.hiq.se StjärnTV is the leading cable company in Stockholm with 240,000 households connected. It has 95 employees, and turnover in 1998 was SEK 294 million. StjärnTV is part of UPC, United Pan-Europe Communications, which reaches 9 million households in 12 European countries. UPC is listed on the Amsterdam and New York (NASDAQ) Stock Exchanges. For more information, please visit www.stjarntv.se ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/01/19/20000119BIT00070/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/01/19/20000119BIT00070/bit0002.pdf