TDE.L Regulatory News (TDE)

30 Jan 2006 10:15

Cesky Telecom A.S.30 January 2006 PRESS RELEASE Eurotel Confirms Its Leadership in the Czech Mobile Market - 4.676 million active customers at the end of 2005, 282 thousand newcustomers in 2005 and 6.4 % year on year growth - Strong fourth quarter figures with more than 50% of the total market netadds and 158 thousand new contract customers - Record breaking 46 % year on year growth of contract customers Prague, 30th January 2006 - At the end of 2005 Eurotel Praha, spol. s r.o.registered 4.676 million active customers in its network and confirmed theposition of the leading mobile operator in the Czech market. Important for thisresult was especially the fourth quarter of 2005 when Eurotel became the mostsuccessful operator in terms of new customer numbers in contract customers aswell as customers using pre-paid services. Eurotel increased the number of active customers by 282 thousand, i.e. by 6.4 %,year over year. The result was achieved primarily thanks to the record breakinggrowth of the number of contract customers last year. At the end of 2005 Eurotelhad 1.546 million contract customers, i.e. 487 thousand new contract customerswere added year over year, which represents record breaking 46 % growth. Totalcontract customers reached 33% of the total customer base, compared to 24% in2004. Successful migration of pre-paid card customers to contract servicesplayed an important role in the growth of the contract customer numbers. "2005 was a successful year for Eurotel with a strong and solid growth in thecontract customer base. We are very happy to have the confidence and support ofour customers," said Salvador Anglada, Chief Executive Officer of Eurotel Praha,spol. s r.o., and continued: "Especially the very successful fourth quarter ofthe last year and our attractive Christmas campaign enthusiastically received bycustomers helped us confirm our position of the leading mobile operator in theCzech market. In the last three months of the ended year Eurotel added 187 thousand newcustomers in total, which is more than the number added by the two competitiveoperators together. Eurotel recorded the highest customer numbers growth of allthe Czech operators in both contract (158 thousand) as well as pre-paid servicescustomers (29 thousand) in the fourth quarter. Eurotel is also the long-term leader in data services in the Czech market. Thenumber of customers using one of the data services provided by Eurotel, such asInternet access, wap services or MMS, exceeded 700 thousand at the end of 2005.The most preferred service is the high-speed Internet access via CDMA with morethan 70 thousand customers at the end of 2005. Just during the Christmascampaign in November and December 14 thousand customers activated this type ofInternet access. Eurotel (in thousands) 31st December 2004 31st December 2005 Year over year changeNumber of customers (GSM and NMT) 4 394 4 676 6.4 %Contract customers (GSM + NMT) 1 058 1 546 46 %Pre-paid Go services 3 336 3 130 -6.2 % Eurotel Praha, spol. s r.o. is the leading mobile telecommunications operator inthe Czech Republic. The company provides complex voice and data services to morethan 4.67 million customers (December 2005). Quality of the services provided,scope of offered solutions, level of innovation and customer care make thecompany founded in 1991 the leader of the Czech market. In cooperation with its 100 % owner, CESKY TELECOM, a.s., Eurotel offers themost complex portfolio of voice and data services supported by uniquecombination of fixed and mobile telephony. The services are provided tocustomers of contract as well as prepaid services. Eurotel in the long termconfirms its leading position in the Czech market also in the segment ofbusiness customers. In the territory of the Czech Republic Eurotel operates the NMT and GSM networkas well as unique 3G networks - CDMA2000 1xEV-DO data network and most recentlyUMTS network enabling data, voice, picture and video transmission. Together withEESKY TELECOM the company operates the most extensive WiFi hotspots network inthe country. Eurotel is a holder of the prestigious award Employer of the Year for the year2003, in 2004 Eurotel placed second among mobile operators in the chart. Eurotelalso holds international quality management system certificate ISO 9001:2003 andwas awarded the ISO 14001 environmental management system certificate as theonly telecommunications operator in the Czech Republic. The company is a holderof the occupational safety and health and information security certificates.Eurotel is the only operator to be awarded the Health Supporting Business titlein 2005. In 2002 Eurotel incorporated a foundation, which regularly on an annualbasis supports multiple projects aimed at children and the young throughout thecountry. For more information visit www.eurotel.cz or www.telecom.cz. For further information please contact: Diana Dobalova Pavel KaidlChief External & Internal Communication Officer Spokesperson+420 720 70 44 00 +420 720 70 55 07diana_dobalova@eurotel.cz pavel_kaidl@eurotel.cz This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange