TDE.L Regulatory News (TDE)

7 Sep 2007 08:30

Telefonica O2 Czech Republic, A.S.07 September 2007 Press Release Telefonica O2 Slovakia fulfilled next license condition The O2 network consists of close to 500 base stations Bratislava, September 7, 2007 Telefonica O2 Slovakia fulfilled next condition for license and as of today thecompany operates close to 500 base stations of the own GSM mobile publictelephone network. This network presently covers with signal 34 percent ofpopulation. This figure is close to three times more than regulated by license.Telefonica O2 Slovakia covers by the own network signal almost the entireterritory of Bratislava. Parallel with the own network, O2 would also furtheruse the national roaming. During one year, Telefonica O2 Slovakia plans to atleast double the number of own base stations. "Telefonica O2 is the world leader in innovation and the same ambition thecompany has also in Slovakia. We wish to provide our customers with the highestquality services. Building of own network is the long term strategic plan of thecompany and its construction permanently continues. Parallel with the ownnetwork we would also further use the national roaming," stated Martin Skop,executive director for networks Telefonica O2 Slovakia. The satisfaction of two other license conditions only confirms the dynamic entryof O2 to the Slovak mobile communication market. By its latest offer of callingfor SKK 1including VAT anytime into all national networks in the SlovakRepublic, Telefonica O2 Slovakia removed barriers among national telephonenetworks. The construction of the mobile network as a priority concentrates in towns withthe highest population density and Slovak companies participate in thisconstruction. The main supplier of technology is the company Nokia SiemensNetworks, the world leader in this field. The O2 network operates on the basisof the most modern technologies. Start of network operation is gradual in individual regions of Slovakia withstart of larger units. The only change which would be registered by customers,would be the change of the logo on the display of mobile telephone, displayingname of the operator "O2-SK", or the numeric code "231-06", or the code "SVK-06". Contact for additional information: RENE PARAKTelefonica O2 Slovakia s.r.o.rene.parak@o2.comTel.: +421 949 22 00 22 PETER STACHAMI Communications Slovakiapeter.stach@amic.skTel: +421 905 474 559 About the company Telefonica O2 Slovakia, s.r.o. Telefonica O2 Slovakia entered the Slovak market of mobile operators on thebasis of the decision issued by the selection committee of the TelecommunicationAuthority of the SR as of 25.8.2006. The license includes the rights to use thefrequencies GSM 900 MHz, GSM 1800 MHz, UMTS and 28/29 GHz for the period of 20years for the purpose of providing telecommunication services in the SlovakRepublic. The company launched its commercial operation on 2.2.2007. In theinitial phase it provides services on the basis of national roaming, however, inparallel it is intensively building-up its own network. The company is graduallyintroducing the offer for the whole spectrum of customers. Within theinternational group Telefonica, Telefonica O2 Slovakia belongs to the groupTelefonica O2 Europe. For all its marketing activities in the Slovak Republicthe company will use the brand-name O2. About the company Telefonica O2 Europe The company O2 consists of the mobile networks operators in Great Britain andIreland, and also of integrated operators of fixed and mobile networks inGermany and the Czech Republic. All these operators present themselves to theirlocal customers under the brand-name O2. Telefonica O2 is the holder of 50%share in the joint stock companies Tesco Mobile in Great Britain and TchiboMobilfunk in Germany; At the same time it is also 100% holder of the company Be,the leader in providing broad band services in Great Britain. To the group alsobelongs the operator of fixed and mobile services on the island Man - thecompany Manx Telecom. Telefonica O2 Europe, belonging to the group Telefonica,has its headquarters in Slough in Great Britain, it has some 40 millioncustomers in fixed and mobile networks. About the company Telefonica S.A. Telefonica is, from the point of view of the market capitalization, one of thelargest telecommunication companies in the world. Its business activities aremainly aimed at fixed and mobile telephone markets, while the key tool fordevelopment of both it considers the broad band connection. The company extensively operates in 23 countries where it has more than 212million customer base. All the stock of the company Telefonica is quoted in the stock exchange, whilemore than 1.5 million of direct shareholders are sharing them. At present thebasic capital is divided among 4,921, 130,397 ordinary shares traded in theSpanish stock exchange (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia) and in thestock exchanges of London, Paris, Frankfurt, Tokio, New York, Lime, Buenos Airesand Sao Paulo. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange