TDE.L Regulatory News (TDE)

6 Mar 2006 12:25

Cesky Telecom A.S.06 March 2006 > PRESS RELEASE - 06.03. 2006> CESKY TELECOM ACQUIRES ANOTHER LICENSE FOR TRANSMITTING DIGITAL TELEVISION CESKY TELECOM, a.s., has acquired a license for the short-term experimentaltransmission of digital television (DVB-T) through its subsidiary companyOMNICOM Praha, spol. s.r.o. In the scope of the pilot transmission, the operatorwill offer programs from the Ocko music station and TOP TV, it will also enableviewers to tune into Brno television station TVb 1. "We received a 60-day license for experimental transmitting, which will begin asof today, March 6, 2006. This will last until the launch of regular digitalbroadcasting on the basis of a license regulation in multiplex C," statedMiroslav Horejsi, Deputy Executive Manager, OMNICOM. Michal Zilka, Executive Director of Content Services and Business Developmentfor CESKY TELECOM, added: "While we are waiting for the license for regularcommercial broadcasting in the DVB-T system we would like to be active by meansof the pilot transmission. We would also like to test the quality of thetransmission of the digital signal and of interactive applications, includingthose that have been newly prepared." The greatest benefits of digital television include excellent picture and soundquality. The opportunity to receive more channels is also a major advantage. Inconnection with CESKY TELECOM services, primary interactive possibilities willinclude on-line betting, voting, TV learning, TV government, TV banking, gaming,chat, interactive advertising, e-mail, SMS and much more. The difference between the DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcasting - Terrestrial)system and an analogue system lies in the manner in which a television signal istransmitted. In the DVB-T system, the signal is relayed digitally over thecourse of the entire transmission (i.e. from the studio to television viewers). It is possible to receive digital television broadcasts in locations covered byan existing antenna system. In order to receive a digital signal, a televisionreceiver must be equipped with a decoder (to convert DVB-T to PAL). If it isnot, it must be supplemented by a set-top box, which provides a connectionbetween the TV receiver and the antenna. A regressive channel that is necessaryfor using interactive applications is also created directly by the televisionreceiver, or the set-top box, through the Internet or a telephone line. It isalso possible to receive a digital television signal on a computer through aspecial card designed to receive a DVB-T signal. For further information, please contact: MARTIN ZABKA Press Spokesman Tel: +420 271 463 359 Fax: +420 271 469 896 e-mail: tiskovy.odbor@ct.cz CESKY TELECOM, a. s., a member of the Telefonica Group, is the leadingtelecommunications company in the Czech Republic. Through its subsidiary companyEurotel Praha, spol. s r.o., it also has a significant presence in the Czechmobile services market. Further information about the firm and the services itoffers is available at www.telecom.cz, which was rated as BestWeb 2003 in theWebTop100 survey. Signum Temporis has consistently awarded CESKY TELECOM for being one of thedomestic capital market's most transparent firms in terms of providinginformation. Based on an open vote of specialists, members of the press and anine-member committee, CESKY TELECOM placed first in 2003, just as it did in2001. CESKY TELECOM ranks among the most prominent firms on the Czech capital marketin terms of capitalization and trading volumes. Its shares are also traded onthe London Stock Exchange in the form of GDRs. CESKY TELECOM's credit rating isthe highest a Czech corporation can receive from top international ratingagencies. About OMNICOM Praha OMNICOM Praha, spol. s r.o., is a subsidiary company owned solely by CESKYTELECOM, a.s. It was founded in 1991. It was initially oriented towardsproviding solutions in the CASE field; however, the company's activities soonbegan to shift towards computer networks. In as early as the first few years ofits existence it achieved a number of outstanding successes. Since then, thecompany has been making the fullest possible use of its assets. All of itsnetworks are built with maximum emphasis placed on surveillance and remotediagnostics. It is developing a new product called "Operational support", whichits first customers are receiving. Its own surveillance centre is alsoexpanding, its method of surveillance has become more elaborate, and itsso-called Integrated Care(R), which has become the company's motto, has becomepart of all its other services (pre-sale and post-sale). It is starting the preparations of a new product - consultation and education inthe field of ITSM/ITIL. Its own ITIL courses have branched off and the companyalso thrives in the fields of consultation and ITIL implementation. At present,OMNICOM has ISO 9001:2000 standard certification for its activities in providingtraining and consultation services in ITIL/ITSM. Since September 16, 2005,OMNICOM Praha has been the holder of a license for experimental DVB-T digitaltelevision broadcasting. OMNICOM Praha is also part of ongoing licensingprocedures for digital broadcasting in its full-format TV ZONE project and newsservice - the TV REAL sports channel. Integrated Care(R) is a method of principles and approaches thanks to whichcustomers receive not only services an products, but also a self-contained,ideally balanced, co-operative and mutually supporting and supplementing packageof solutions. It comes with all services and products that OMNICOM offers, andreinforces its professional and technical interconnection considerably and makesperfect use of all its resources and opportunities. About Telefonica Telefonica is Europe's leading integrated telecom company and second biggest inthe world. Its activities are centred mainly on the fixed and mobile telephonybusinesses with broadband as the key tool for the development of both of these. The company is operating in 40 countries and together with CESKY TELECOM has acustomer base that amounts to more than 140 million access. Telefonica has astrong presence in Latin America, where the company concentrates part of itsgrowth strategy. Telefonica is a 100% listed company, with more than 1.5 million directshareholders. Its share capital currently comprises 4,921,130,397 ordinaryshares traded on the Spanish Stock Market (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao andValencia) and on those in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Tokyo, New York, Lima,Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo and the SEAQ International Exchange in London. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange