BT Hawthorn Ltd Acquire 1% of Esat Digifone Ltd

British Telecommunications PLC
11 January 2000


BT Hawthorn Limited ('BT Hawthorn')

Acquisition of 1 per cent. interest in Esat Digifone
Limited ('Esat Digifone')

Following this morning's joint announcement by BT
Hawthorn (a wholly owned subsidiary of British
Telecommunications plc ('BT plc')) and Esat Telecom Group
plc ('Esat') of a recommended offer by BT Hawthorn for
Esat, BT Hawthorn announces the acquisition through
another subsidiary of BT plc of a 1 per cent. interest in
Esat Digifone from Mr. Dermot Desmond.  The terms of this
transaction remain undisclosed.

Esat currently owns 49.5 per cent. of Esat Digifone. On
successful completion of BT Hawthorn's offer for Esat,
this will bring BT plc's effective ownership of Esat
Digifone to a total of 50.5 per cent.


Enquiries:

BT                                      44 (0)207 356 5369
Jonathan Moggridge

N M Rothschild & Sons Limited                44 (0)207 280 5000
Nigel Higgins
Tony Allen
Matthew Metcalfe

The Directors of BT Hawthorn accept responsibility for
the information contained in this Press Announcement.  To
the best of the knowledge and belief of the Directors of
BT Hawthorn (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure
that such is the case) the information contained in this
Press Announcement is in accordance with the facts and
does not omit anything likely to affect the import of
such information.