Millicom international cellular s.a. announces subscriber growth for the third quarter of 2002

MILLICOM INTERNATIONAL CELLULAR S.A. ANNOUNCES SUBSCRIBER GROWTH FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2002 · 28% annual growth in total subscribers to 3.9 million* · 24% annual growth in proportional subscribers to 2.8 million* · 54% annual growth in pre-paid subscribers in Asia · 60% annual growth in pre-paid subscribers in Central America New York and Luxembourg -- October 9, 2002 -- Millicom International Cellular S.A. (MIC) (Nasdaq Stock Market: MICC), the global telecommunications investor, announced today that in the third quarter of 2002 its worldwide operations in Asia, Latin America* and Africa added 221,827 net new cellular subscribers or 126,847 subscribers on a proportional basis. At September 30, 2002, MIC's worldwide cellular subscriber base* increased by 28% to 3,970,101 cellular subscribers from 3,098,321 as at September 30, 2001. Particularly significant annualized percentage increases were recorded in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Pakistan, Vietnam, Ghana and Central America. At September 30, 2002, MIC had 2,823,223 proportional cellular subscribers*, an increase of 24% on the 2,267,809 proportional subscribers, reported at September 30, 2001. Cellular Operations (i) Proportio Proportional Total Total nal (ii) (ii) Annu Subs at Subs at Annualize Subs at Subs at aliz Sept 30, Sept 30, d Sept 30, Sept 30, ed 2002 2001 Increase 2002 2001 Incr ease Asia 1,118,302 787,964 42% 1,789,428 1,248,900 43% Latin 1,499,487 1,318,765 14% 1,885,830 1,605,703 17% America* Africa 205,434 161,080 28% 294,843 243,718 21% Total 2,823,223 2,267,809 24% 3,970,101 3,098,321 28% Cellular Ops* (i) All numbers and comparatives exclude divested operations (ii) Proportional subscribers are calculated as the sum of MIC's percentage ownership of subscribers in each operation. * Excluding El Salvador Within the 2,823,223 proportional cellular subscribers* reported at the end of the third quarter, 2,458,804 were pre-paid customers, representing a 35% increase on the 1,823,487 proportional prepaid subscribers* recorded at the end of September 2001. Pre-paid subscribers currently represent 87% of gross reported proportional cellular subscribers. Millicom International Cellular S.A. is a global telecommunications investor with cellular operations in Asia, Latin America and Africa. It currently has a total of 18 cellular operations and licenses in 17 countries. The Group's cellular operations have a combined population under license (excluding Tele2) of approximately 444 million people. In addition, MIC operates the world's largest GSM clearing house, provides high-speed wireless data services in seven countries. MIC also has a 9.3% interest in Tele2 AB, the leading alternative pan-European telecommunications company offering fixed and mobile telephony, data network and Internet services to over 16 million customers in 21 countries. The Company's shares are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol MICC. CONTACTS: Marc Beuls Telephone: +352 27 759 101 President and Chief Executive Officer Millicom International Cellular S.A., Luxembourg Andrew Best Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7321 5022 Shared Value Ltd, London Visit MIC's homepage at http://www.millicom.com ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/10/09/20021009BIT00470/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/10/09/20021009BIT00470/wkr0002.pdf