Orange wins Swedish UMTS licence

ORANGE WINS SWEDISH UMTS LICENCE Stockholm, December 16. The Post and Telecom Agency has today decided to offer Orange Sverige a license for next generation mobile telephony. Orange Sverige now looks forward to fulfilling its commitments to Sweden. The network will be rolled out at the fastest possible pace and cover the entire Swedish population already by 2003. "We are pleased to have been offered a licence in Sweden. We think PTS has taken a decision in the interest of the Swedish people. With our roll- out plan, we believe that Swedes will be among the first in Europe to be able to take advantage of the new technology" says Michael Latimer, COO and Group Director International at Orange. "We see Sweden as a very important and interesting market to be present in since we feel that this will be a test market for new exciting Mobile Internet services. We believe Orange Sverige will bring increased competition to this market and we believe we have something totally new to offer Swedish consumers. We will offer a broad range of new products and services, available whenever, wherever and however you want to use them." "Since August, Orange Sverige has prepared the network roll-out. We are prepared to give Sweden a forefront position in mobile communication," says Jeremy Sell, Project Director for Sweden at Orange. "Orange/France Telecom are now positioned to be a leading global mobile player." The consortium Orange Sverige has been formed by Orange, Bredbandsbolaget, Skanska and Schibsted. The consortium combines competence and experience of mobile operations, broadband and infrastructure under the common name - Orange Sverige. More information can be found at the consortium website: www.orangecommunications.nu For further press information: Elizabeth Fox, Orange Media Centre: +44 (0) 207 984 2000/ +44 7970 829 643 Bruno Janet, VP Corporate Information, France Telecom: +33 1 44 44 88 71 Nilou du Castel, Head of Press Office, France Telecom: +33 1 44 44 93 93 Cecilia Lindgren, PR and Information representative, Orange Sverige: + 46 (0)706 97 68 36 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/12/16/20001216BIT00280/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/12/16/20001216BIT00280/bit0002.pdf