TDE.L Regulatory News (TDE)

14 Aug 2007 12:00

Telefonica O2 Czech Republic, A.S.14 August 2007 Press release O2 prepares the launching of operation of its own telephone network After the launching of own network O2 will continue to use the T-Mobile nationalroaming Bratislava, 14 August 2007 O2 intensively continues building its own telephone network. It uses the latestcutting-edge technologies and facilities in the field of mobile communication.In line with the licensing criteria in September 2007 the first 400 O2 basestations will be in operation. Their number will double by autumn 2008. "The construction of an own network is one of our priorities .However, alongwith our own network we will continue to use the national roaming in theT-Mobile Slovensko network. This will allow us to provide a guarantee to ourcustomers of modern and high quality services on the top European level in theentire Slovakia," says Telefonica O2 Slovensko Executive Director for NetworksMartin Skop. The network launching will be rolled out in Slovakia's individual regions on astep-by-step basis by closing wider clusters using jigsaw system. The onlychange that the customer will notice is an O2-SK indication on the display ofthe mobile telephone, or a number code "231-06". The network building is nowfocused in areas with the widest population density. Presently, regions such asBanska Bystrica, Presov, Kosice, Bratislava and some part of Povaie are coveredpartially. Contact for further 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 2 4341 5709tel: +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 39 million customers infixed 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 a 206 millioncustomer 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