EUROTEL: GSM 1800 MHz NETWORK TRIAL OPERATION IS HERE


On Friday, 22 May 1998, EuroTel Praha, the largest GSM 900 and NMT 450i network mobile phone operator in the Czech Republic, presented the initial functional tests of GSM 1800 service at the "Marathon Tent," in the lower part of Wenceslas Square.
This GSM 1800 network trial operation is another of many significant steps forward towards the use of an additional frequency band to expand the existing EuroTel GSM Global network. At the same time, the use of the 900 and 1800 MHz frequency bands is a global trend, and similar so-called Dual Band networks have been put into operation in several developed European countries, such as Sweden and England.
Adoption of 1800 MHz in addition to 900 MHz will in the future allow EuroTel to achieve a marked expansion of capacity in a combined GSM 900/1800 network while maintaining the existing high quality.

"The use of a combined GSM network is a part of our strategy for the further development of EuroTel, particularly in the area of high capacity services. EuroTel is devoting special attention to this development and to further services that we plan to offer," says Jamie Macdonald, acting Managing Director of EuroTel Praha, Ltd. "EuroTel will demonstrate a trial operation of 1800 MHz network operation to the general public at the ComNet '98 international trade fair," Mr. Macdonald adds.

Two new telephones for this network were introduced at and used in the trial operation - the Bosch Dual-Com 738 (multiband 900/1800 MHz) and the Philips Twist (1800 MHz).

EuroTel Praha Ltd is a joint venture of SPT TELECOM Inc. (51%) and Atlantic West B.V. (49%). Atlantic West B.V. is equally owned by Bell Atlantic (NYSE:BELL) and MediaOne International, which is also known as US WEST International, a part of the MediaOne Group (NYSE:UMG).

Prague, May 22, 1998
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For further information, please contact:
EuroTel Praha, Ltd.
Iva Taťounová
Tel.: 02/6701 1193, Fax: 02/6701 1195