Bt's Manx Telecom to Launch Europe's First UMTS

British Telecommunications PLC
9 March 2000


                            
 BT'S MANX TELECOM TO LAUNCH EUROPE'S FIRST UMTS MOBILE
                 COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK
                            

Europe's first commercial universal mobile

telecommunications service (UMTS) will be launched in the

Isle of Man, it was announced today by BT and Manx

Telecom, a wholly owned subsidiary.

     The next generation mobile communications service

will be introduced early next year in collaboration with

leading mobile handset and network suppliers, NEC and

Siemens. NEC will be providing the base station, air

interfaces and terminal devices and Siemens will be

responsible for the provision of core switching

technology.

     It will position BT as a world-leader in the

provision of mobile multimedia data services and will

provide invaluable experience to use throughout its

global mobile operations and alliances.

      Today's announcement follows the Isle of Man

Government's decision last year to allow Manx Telecom to

provide third generation communications services

throughout the island.


     Work began immediately to build the UMTS network

which will deliver multimedia information to new mobile

handsets and devices at speeds at least 10 times faster

than today's global services mobile (GSM) and forthcoming

general packet radio system (GPRS) mobile networks.

     Customers of Manx Telecom will be able to send and

receive full-motion, video and entertainment services as

well as gain high-speed access to the Internet, e-mail

and mobile commerce applications via their mobile handset

or device.

      Initial supply of handsets will include a mobile

phone with browser supporting wireless application

protocol (WAP) and an Image Viewer Terminal with a two-

inch liquid crystal display (LCD). These will support a

range of innovative mobile applications which will

be developed and offered by Manx Telecom. Applications

may include:

* The automatic downloading of sports highlights into a

user's handheld videophone;

* The ability to view the latest film trailers and

purchase cinema tickets on-line;

* Access to e-mail and the Internet via a mobile handset;

* The ability to connect remotely  at high speed to

company local area networks (LANs);

* The development of multimedia e-commerce opportunities,

including off shore purchasing and off shore banking.

     Under the joint development, BT will commit

substantial research and development expertise from its

laboratories - BT Adastral Park, Martlesham.

     Steve Andrews, BT director of European alliances 

and board director of Manx Telecom, said: 

'The Isle of Man is an ideal location for BT and

its partners to demonstrate the real commercial value of

third generation mobile applications and technology. It

offers a high level of financial services activity, the

ability to focus deployment in a small geography and the

commitment of the Isle of Man government to encourage

this development.

     'By working with NEC and Siemens, Manx Telecom and

BT have selected skilled partners who share a common view

that the market for mobile Internet and multimedia

products and services represents a massive opportunity

for rapid business growth using Europe's first commercial

UMTS network.'

     BT and Manx Telecom will be working with a number of

major application and content providers, which will be

announced shortly.


     Jonathan Harvey, project director for NEC, said:

'This exciting opportunity allows us to demonstrate to

the marketplace the benefits and opportunities brought

about through the deployment of UMTS communications

services. We are delighted to work with Manx Telecom and

BT in this project.'

     Svante Stenbom, project director for Siemens, said:

'The Isle of Man project with BT and Manx Telecom will

prove that UMTS technology will succeed in developing

itself into one of the most desired telecommunications

technologies around - a very exciting moment for us all.'