Aliatel and Telenor confirm consortium partnership in Czech Republic
The Aliatel-Telenor partnership is in a strong strategic position to win the third mobile license. Both companies possess market and business know-how, financial strength and the technical infrastructure to offer attractive wireless services within the Czech Republic. Together they have a strong position both locally and internationally in the telecom market. "The consortium is a perfect match which will ensure countless benefits and a tremendous boost for the country," said Jirí Hubka.
"Our financial commitment to the Czech market has been part of a larger, long term strategy. Our interest in this license is yet another step towards achieving our goals - by liberalising the telecommunications market, the Czech customers are the ones who will ultimately win," said Jürgen Struck, member of the Board of RWE Telliance AG, Aliatel's major individual shareholder.
"I believe that our experience from 13 mobile operations around the world will be a solid basis for further development of mobile services in the Czech market. Telenor - together with Aliatel - are ready to take part in deployment of a high capacity, high quality mobile network for innovative, wireless voice and data services," said Kåre Gustad, Executive Vice-president of Telenor International Mobility.
Aliatel, positioned as the alternative national telecommunications provider for data services, has made it a priority to take a significant role in the liberalisation of the Czech telecom market. The Company's edge lies in its telecommunications infrastructure. Aliatel is the first alternative provider that offers International Permanent Leased Circuits (IPLC) which allow transmission of large amounts of data including video and voice signals.
Telenor is a well-established telecommunications provider in the Czech Republic. Telenor is the market leader in satellite services and a major Internet provider to clients in the banking, insurance and retail sector in the Czech Republic.
Press Conference:
You are invited to the Aliatel-Telenor press conference on July 14 at Modrá Teraza, Budova CKD, Na Mustku 9, Praha 1 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Please confirm your attendance by contacting Ewing Public Relations.
For more information:
Ewing Public Relations
Vera Sandova or Pavlina Rieselova
Tynsky dvur 10, Praha 1, 110 00
Telephone: (+420 2) 2482 8065-8,
Fax: (+420 2) 2482 5456
E-mail: ewing@ewingpr.cz
Telenor Czech Rep.:
Per-Erik Hylland
Mobile: (+420) 602 391 683
E-mail: per.hylland@telenor.cz
For information from Aliatel:
Bal Panesar
Telephone: (+420 2) 8303 1116
Mobile: (+420) 602 392 514
E-mail: bal.panesar@aliatel.cz
Telenor International Mobility:
Kåre Gustad
Telephone: +47 22 77 99 04
Mobile: +47 900 30 000
E-mail: kare.gustad@international.telenor.no
Telenor AS:
Dag Melgaard
Telephone: +47 22 77 85 90
Mobile: +47 901 92 000
E-mail: dag.melgaard@telenor.com
Aliatel, a Czech telecom provider, was formed from a partnership between a number of Czech joint-stock energy companies in May 1996. In April 1998, Aliatel gained a foreign partner and shareholder, RWE Telliance. The acquisition of a foreign investor resulted in the increase of Aliatel's fixed assets and brought in valuable foreign experience. Since the very beginning of its existence, Aliatel has strived to become the main alternative telecommunications provider in the Czech Republic. This goal intends to give basic users of telecommunications services the long awaited possibility to choose between two or more telecommunications providers.
About Aliatel and Telenor
Aliatel, already positioned as the alternative national telecom provider, has made it a priority to take a significant role in the liberalisation of the Czech telecommunications market. It is also the first to offer International Permanent Leased Circuits (IPLC) which allow transmission of large amounts of data including video and voice signals. Presently, over 3000 kilometres of Aliatel optical fibres exist in the Czech Republic and an additional 2000 kilometres are planned by the end of 1999. Aliatel's clients include EUnet Czechia and NATO.
Telenor AS, is the major national telecommunications operator in Norway with a turnover in 1998 of 127 billion Kã and operating profits of 17 billion Kã. Seven business areas and their respective business units employ a total of 21 500 people.
Telenor International AS is Telenor's player in the international arena, handling international communications solutions as well as networks, satellite communications, consultancy, value-added services and satellite communications outside Norway. Telenor is an active investor in mobile companies leveraging its investments by utilising commercial and technical expertise from Telenors' mobile operations in Norway and abroad.
Mobility, one of Telenor International's divisions, is responsible for the company's expansion within the mobile communications industry. Telenor is the market leader in mobile services in Norway and has ownership in mobile operators based on GSM1800 technology in Germany, Austria and Greece. Telenor also has ownership in mobile companies in Ireland, Hungary, Montenegro, Bangladesh, Ukraine and Russia (Moscow, St Petersburg, Kaliningrad and Stavropol).
