First UMTS in the Czech Republic to be Launched by T-Mobile

• Launch of the world's fastest UMTS network - UMTS TDD
• Complementary data services - high speed data anytime, anywhere
• Substitution of fixed DSL brings real freedom to users

Prague, June 20, 2005 - T-Mobile Czech Republic today announced a new data access strategy tailored to address the needs of the Czech market. The company will launch a wireless broadband network based on UMTS TDD technology from IPWireless in Prague by year-end, nationwide coverage to be built during consequent months. The new technology will bring businesses and individuals faster, more economical data access services which can fully substitute fixed ADSL.

The Czech market has one of the lowest broadband penetration rates in Central Europe but increasing computer penetration has only whetted the appetite for true broadband services - a hunger that T-Mobile plans to satiate with its world-class wireless broadband offering at very attractive prices. Broadband currently reaches only 2 per cent of the Czech population while EU average is around 10 per cent.

"Today we announce a major step in our strategy based on customers´ wishes - we commit ourselves to broadband data as the second business focus area," says Roland Mahler, Managing Director of T-Mobile CZ, adding: "We firmly believe the wireless broadband technology will provide all fixed network services and the strategy will clearly give T-Mobile further boost on its way to being the number one operator in the Czech Republic."

T-Mobile aims to maximize the value of its acquired UMTS license by using UMTS TDD technology operating in its "unpaired" 1.9 GHz UMTS spectrum. It will be the world's fastest commercial UMTS network, capable of delivering peak sector speeds of up to 4.5 Mbps (average user experience runs to 512 Kbps).

T-Mobile also plans to extend its wireless broadband footprint in first phase till summer 2006 to cover nearly half of the Czech population by leveraging the same UMTS TDD technology in the 872 MHz spectrum that it recently acquired. In this manner, T-Mobile will be able to offer its superior performance in more than 85 cities. By introducing this "portable DSL" product, T-Mobile will be able to build on the success of its fixed-mobile substitution effort. For the first time, Czech customers will be able to completely give up their fixed lines provided by the incumbent operator and become completely unwired both for voice and data access while increasing the comfort, speed, flexibility and reliability of their communication experience.

To further fortify its mobile data leadership on the Czech market, T-Mobile Czech Republic also continues to upgrade its existing 2.5G GPRS network to the significantly faster EDGE technology. EDGE can deliver the most relevant 3G UMTS services, but with much broader coverage and lower rollout costs. The build-out of the nationwide EDGE network will provide a solid base from which to deliver a high performance, "3G-like" user experience anytime, anywhere. By combining UMTS TDD wireless broadband and EDGE in easy-to-use, plug-and-play devices, T-Mobile Czech Republic will provide the best "seamless access" and an "always best connected" user experience.

T-Mobile Czech Republic will also enhance its 3G offering by introducing the next generation of UMTS FDD technology (HSDPA/HSUPA) as soon as it has proven to be a stable and viable commercial offering.

This focus on bringing to market only the most advanced technologies also ensures alignment between technology performance, economics and the Czech customers´ demand for value added data services.

UMTS TDD
UMTS TDD, a 3GPP-based technology, is the mobile broadband solution designed for GSM operators. Its high average sector capacity, strong cell edge performance, and low cost per megabit make it an ideal technology for mass market mobile broadband networks. UMTS TDD has emerged as a leading global standard for mobile broadband with commercial deployments in numerous countries around the world including Australia, Germany, Lithuania, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

About IPWireless
IPWireless offers advanced standards-based mobile broadband technology that drastically improves the way people connect and communicate at home, at the office, or on the road. With a full range of commercially available network solutions and devices based on the UMTS standard, IPWireless allows operators to offer Complete 3G, a spectrum of completely mobile, portable, or stationary packet-based services with unmatched economics and true broadband performance. The IPWireless Partner Program and chipsets allow device manufacturers and infrastructure vendors to very quickly bring innovative new TD-CDMA solutions to market. IPWireless is a founding member of the Global UMTS TDD Alliance. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ipwireless.com

About T-Mobile
T-Mobile Czech Republic a.s. has been operating in the Czech market since 1996 and provides its services to individuals and corporations, as well as public authorities. Besides tariff programs, it also offers services for users of prepaid Twist cards and services tailored to the needs of the business segment. As of the end of 1Q 2005, almost 4.4 million customers were using its services.

T-Mobile is a member of the international telecommunications group T-Mobile International which is one of the world's leading companies in mobile communications By Q1 2005, nearly 80 million customers were served in nine T-Mobile markets.

For more information, please visit www.t-mobile.cz or www.t-mobile.net.

For further press information contact:

T-Mobile Czech Republic a.s.
Jirí Hájek
Vice Presindent Corporate Communication
+ 420 603 601 030
ji.hajek@t-mobile.cz

Martina Kemrová
Head of External Communication
+ 420 603 601 150
martina.kemrova@t-mobile.cz


IPWireless
Madelyn Smith
Director, Communications
(703) 548-3738
msmith@ipwireless.com

View Other Articles >