Netcom AB indicates strong operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 1999, exceeding market expectations

NETCOM AB INDICATES STRONG OPERATING RESULTS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1999, EXCEEDING MARKET EXPECTATIONS New York and Stockholm - October 5, 1999 - NetCom AB ("NetCom", "the Group") (Nasdaq Stock Market: NECS), the leading alternative provider of telecommunication services in the Nordic countries, the Baltic region and Poland, today indicated that consolidated results for the three months ended September 30, 1999 would exceed market expectations. The operating performance of NetCom's Mobile Telephony operations during the months of July and August were particularly strong. In addition, Tele2 A/S Denmark contributed a positive operating profit before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for the month of August. The introduction of pre-select in Sweden on September 11, 1999, no longer requires NetCom's customers to dial a prefix to access NetCom's network and has resulted in a significant 25% uplift in fixed line traffic on NetCom's network in Sweden. This volume increase equates to a rise in earnings from NetCom's Fixed Telephony operations of approximately 20 million SEK per month assuming a continuation of current volume levels. NetCom AB, formed in 1993, is a leading telecommunications company in the Nordic countries, the Baltic region and Poland. It is engaged in the GSM cellular business operating using the brand names of Comviq and Tele2Mobil in Sweden, NetCom ASA in Norway and through subsidiary Ritabell in Estonia. In the areas of public telecommunications, data communication services and Internet, NetCom operates Tele2 in Sweden, Tele2 A/S in Denmark and Tele2 Norge AS in Norway. NetCom also operates NätTeknik and Datametrix, specializing in systems integration, 4T Solutions and Optimal Telecom in addition to Kabelvision, a Swedish cable TV services company. NetCom is listed both on the Stockholm Stock Exchange under the symbols NCOMA and NCOMB and on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol NECS. Contacts: Lars-Johan Jarnheimer Telephone: + 46 8 562 640 00 President and CEO, NetCom AB, Sweden Jörgen Latte Telephone: + 46 8 562 640 00 CFO, NetCom AB, Sweden Visit us at our homepage: http://www.netcom.se ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/10/05/19991005BIT00580/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/10/05/19991005BIT00580/bit0002.pdf