chello broadband and UPC Magyarorszag to Deliver High-Speed
Broadband Internet Access Via Cable in Hungary
* Hungary marks chello's first expansion into Central Europe
* Hungary becomes 10th country to receive chello service
* chello and partner UPC Magyarorszag to deliver broadband internet access
in Budapest
* Central Europe is important focus in chello's global expansion programme
BUDAPEST, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ --
United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) (AEX: UPC) (Nasdaq: UPCOY) and chello
broadband nv, (chello), one of the world's leading broadband internet
companies, active in Europe, Latin America and Australasia, today announced
its expansion into Central Europe as it launched its service in Hungary
(http://www.chello.hu) in association with UPC Magyarorszag, Hungary's largest
broadband communications company. Hungary becomes the tenth country in which
chello's high-speed broadband internet service is available. The launch of
chello in Hungary is consistent with UPC's triple play strategy of providing
voice, video and data services.
UPC Magyarorszag provides cable television services to more than 35 cities
and villages throughout Hungary. The partnership will see chello broadband
initially provide high-speed broadband internet access to residential and
business subscribers in Budapest and in Miskolc, with plans to roll out the
service further in 2001.
Roger Lynch, president and CEO of chello broadband nv, said: "We have our
roots in Europe and we're delighted to be able to extend our broadband
internet service into Central Europe, where we expect growth in internet usage
to be especially strong. In fact, the number of internet accounts in Hungary
is expected to grow over 500% from now until 2004, when 6% of the country's
population will be users.* Hungary is the first country in Central Europe to
enjoy chello, and we intend to make our award-winning service available to
many more countries in the region."
The new service in Hungary will feature chello's international, national
and localised broadband content from among others, Amtel, Port, Magazix,
Netforum, Globopolis, Est FM, Netrider, Warner Music, Sport 1, Universal Music
and Sony.
Uli Neuert, director, chello broadband Central-Europe, added: "The
partnership with UPC Magyarorszag is the ideal platform from which to launch
our high-speed broadband service in Hungary. They are a major player in
Hungary and our partnership with them will give us a solid foundation in the
Hungarian broadband market. Initially, we are launching chello in four
districts of Budapest and in Miskolc and we expect to reach 400,000 homes with
two-way capacity in the country by the end of 2001."
Joe Zuravle, managing director of UPC Magyarorszag said: "UPC
Magyarorszag has already been operating an experimental broadband Internet
service in some regions including Miskolc, Debrecen, Nagykanizsa, Szolnok,
Nyiregyhaza, and Gyongyos. With the addition of chello's international,
national and localised broadband content, this new partnership gives our
customers an even larger choice."
*Source: Pyramid Research
SOURCE chello broadband nv
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Related links:
http://www.chello.hu
CONTACT:
Lori Tusa of chello broadband nv,
+31-20-778-8377, or ltusa@chello.com; or Olivia Martin of Nelson
Bostock Communications, +44-207-229-4400, or
olivia.martin@nelsonbostock.com; or Bert Holtkamp of UPC,
+31-20-778-9800, or bholtkamp@upccorp.com
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