Utfors' Scandinavian network in full commercial service

Press release: Utfors' Scandinavian network in full commercial service * Utfors inaugurated its Oslo office yesterday, thus completing the latest launch stage of its backbone network. * Norwegian companies, municipalities and organisations are gaining access to Utfors' world-leading broadband services. "We are on full power in the Swedish market and, from today in the Oslo region market too following the launch of our operations in Norway. We have a lot to offer Nordic companies and promise that our services will not only make our customers' lives easier, but more cost-effective too," says Jan Werne, President & CEO of Utfors. Utfors activated the Scandinavian fibre ring (excluding Oslo) in November. Since then it has connected several Swedish cities and a large number of customers. Utfors is currently launching regional rings in stages as well as the Öresund ring to Copenhagen and the submarine cable system to Helsinki, laying the foundations for a pan-Nordic broadband network. The fibre network is designed to enable use of the latest available technology both at optic level (DWDM - Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) and transport level (GigaEthernet RouteSwitches and next generation Terra Bit Routers). This entails considerably lower transport costs than any other network in the Nordic region, enabling a series of high-quality broadband services. Many of these services revolve round Utfors' IP port. An IP port means that companies no longer need separate outlets for computer connections and telephony but are given a fast, secure connection point for the Internet, the company telephone switch and connections between local offices with guaranteed capacity. The company can also make calls free of charge between the local offices and to other companies connected to Utfors' broadband network. "We have now rolled out the world's first IP-based national operator network intended and designed for multiple services. The core of the network is based entirely on the Giga Ethernet transport protocol - the technology expected to dominate operator networks of the future," says Jan Werne. For further information please contact: Jan Werne, President & CEO, tel. +46 8 5270 2000 or +46 708 48 25 40, jan.werne@utfors.se Markus Boberg, PR Manager, tel. +46 8 5270 3016 or +46 708 48 30 16, markus.boberg@utfors.se Utfors is the first choice of Nordic partner for high quality fixed and mobile broadband, Internet and telephony services. Utfors is launching a network at the cutting edge of global technology. In this network, Utfors offers companies, authorities and private individuals revolutionary services that create new possibilities for progress and creativity. In 2001, Utfors will be linking together the 75 largest cities in the Nordic. Utfors employs around 270 people in Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki, Uppsala, Gothenburg, Malmö and Överkalix. Utfors AB's principal owners are Norsk Vekst and Litorina Kapital as well as a number of institutional investors. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/01/17/20010117BIT00720/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/01/17/20010117BIT00720/bit0002.pdf