Internet 4G - the first Czech UMTS

• High-speed mobile Internet for home and business use launched on 19 October 2005
• One of the fastest mobile Internet services in Europe for prices starting at CZK 699/month, terminals for CZK 1
• Free round-the-clock customer assistance

Prague, 19 October 2005 - Today, T-Mobile is launching the first UMTS network in the Czech Republic. The service, titled Internet 4G, provides a mobile alternative to ADSL and further expands the range of data services offered to our customers. The unique characteristics of the UMTS TDD technology supplied by IPWireless enable advanced applications that require high access speed and low latency, such as video conferences, music and TV streaming, on-line games and high-speed internet access. Internet 4G is currently available within the area of Prague and the coverage will be expanded to other areas in the months to come.

"A lot has been said and written about the desperate situation of broadband Internet access in the Czech Republic. We have decided to fill this gap," says Roland Mahler, the Managing Director of T-Mobile CZ, adding: "Thanks to its performance, Internet 4G can fully substitute fixed-line Internet. We are convinced that it will strengthen our No. 1 position in the Czech market."

High-speed mobile alternative to ADSL
The UMTS TDD wireless broadband network will provide one of the fastest mobile Internet access services in Europe. This is one of the reasons why the service is titled Internet 4G, as it offers a technology that is one generation ahead of its competitors. As opposed to UMTS FDD, TDD is optimized only for data, not for voice traffic. This specialization allows achieving much higher transmission speeds compared to other mobile technologies. Users of Internet 4G will thus be able to take advantage of downlink speeds of up to 1024 kbps and uplink speeds of up to 256 kbps.

Internet 4G also compares to ADSL in terms of latency. Latency is the time between sending a request, e.g. to open a website, and its reception. In the case of Internet 4G, network latency is usually lower than 100 milliseconds (ms) and can be as low as 50ms. Therefore, our customers are able to enjoy on-line games, music and TV streaming, videoconferences, and rapid transmission of large files. Furthermore, the network allows service quality management, i.e. for example the possibility of prioritizing audio and video streaming as well as customers using higher tariffs.

Customers who want to use high-speed Internet are thus no longer forced to rely on ADSL over fixed lines. "By introducing this service, we are delivering on our promise to bring our customers full-fledged substitution of fixed networks, now even in the area of data services. Another great advantage of our offer is the mobility of the service," says Roland Mahler.

Prices
Since T-Mobile is aware that Internet customers needs vary, it has prepared two different tariffs - one of them for those who use the Internet only occasionally or who want to try out the service at first, and the other one for discerning users who access the Internet intensively.

For the light or occasional users, there is Internet 4G Standard with a monthly fee of CZK 699 excl. VAT (CZK 831.81 incl. VAT). Those who need Internet access for business purposes or intense private usage, can choose Internet 4G Premium. For the monthly fee of CZK 999 excl. VAT (1,188.81 incl. VAT), they will receive more speed, a higher volume of data transmitted and, in addition, unlimited EDGE, GPRS and WiFi access. Both tariffs are special introductory offerings for our Prague users.

Internet 4G is subject to a Fair User Policy, the aim of which is to protect "fair" users from people who excessively download data and may thus cause inconvenience to other customers. Therefore, there is a monthly limit of 3 GB of traffic for the subscribers of Internet 4G Standard and 10 GB for Internet 4G Premium. These limits do not exceed the needs of an average user, since average users usually move approximately 1 GB of data each month.

If a customer exceeds the limit defined for his or her tariff, the download speed will be automatically reduced to 64 or 128 kbps respectively. However, customers can also buy additional data volume beyond the applicable limit at a favourable price.

Internet 4G price list

	Internet 4G Standard	Internet 4G Premium
Activation fee	CZK 99	CZK 99
Monthly fee	CZK 699	CZK 999
Max. transmission speed (downlink/uplink)	512/128 kbps	1024/256 kbps
Monthly FUP*	3 GB	10 GB
Speed upon exceeding the FUP* (downlink/uplink)	64/32 kbps	128/64 kbps
Price for another 1 GB* of data to extend FUP limit	CZK 99	CZK 99
Further unlimited acces included in the price	-	GPRS, EDGE, WIFI

Note: *FUP = the Fair User Policy has been introduced with all unlimited data tariffs. Once the limit of data transmitted during one billing period is exceeded, the transmission speed will be reduced to one eighth of the original speed. The full connection speed is re-established at the beginning of the following billing period. Customers may increase the data "limit" by purchasing additional GB of data at the original speed, if needed. The prices stated do not include VAT.

Easy installation, "try & buy", round-the-clock customer assistance
Using Internet 4G is very easy. In addition to a PC or notebook, customers will only need the appropriate equipment supporting this service - they can select either a modem with USB and Ethernet interface (for desktop PCs), or a PCMCIA card (for notebooks). Customers also obtain a new SIM card when they activate an Internet 4G tariff.

A desktop modem is more suitable for customers who plan using Internet 4G at home, for example, instead of ADSL. A desktop modem may be purchased at a subsidized price of CZK 1 until the end of the year, after which the price will be from CZK 799. The PCMCIA card intended for notebooks may be purchased at a special price of CZK 1 until the end of the year and then at prices from CZK 1.999. All prices include VAT and assume 12-months contract.

Interested users may try out the service without any risk before they purchase a device or sign the contract. "Try & buy" devices are provided to users for three days (after paying a deposit) so that the interested users are able to test the service at their desired location.

Moreover, T-Mobile has increased the capacity of its Customer Centre's infoline on 4603, which customers can contact should they need any assistance with the installation or solution of any potential technical problems. When purchasing the service, each user will obtain a voucher for free installation or technical assistance, which will be provided by AutoCont, the leading Czech supplier of information and communication technologies. The customers have two options: They can visit service points of Autocont, where the technicians will perform the installation for free (upon collection of the voucher), or arrange a visit of an Autocont technician to their home or office (in this case the customer is obliged to pay for the transportation costs). 

Internet 4G coverage
Internet 4G is currently available in the 1.9 GHz band in Prague. This band allows the provision of a excellent network capacity in city areas. The desktop modems and PCMCIA cards, which are now supplied by T-Mobile are intended for usage only in Prague.

Our UMTS TDD coverage keeps expanding at a rapid pace to other large cities, similar as previously in the case of EDGE. In the first half of 2006, Internet 4G will be provided in most cities with populations exceeding 10,000 inhabitants in the 872 MHz band. This band is suitable for covering large, less densely populated areas. Thereby, more than 50% of population will be covered with UMTS TDD by mid 2006. The terminals suitable for both frequencies are going to be offered from early 2006. Devices purchased earlier can be replaced as part of prolongation offers during 2006.

For information on current coverage, please visit www.t-mobile.cz/internet4G, or send an SMS in form "Internet" to number 4616. T-Mobile will return an SMS, which indicates the Internet access technologies available in the area, such as Internet 4G, EDGE or GPRS.

Outlook
T-Mobile intends to also offer its customers the frequently-mentioned UMTS FDD in the future, but not until it will offers stable HSDPA (fast data download) and HSUPA (fast data upload). Until that time, T-Mobile plans to extend UMTS TDD coverage to cover the majority of Czech population.

The presentation form press conference is here.

T-Mobile Czech Republic, a member of the international telecommunications group Deutsche Telekom, has almost 6.2 million customers, the number-one operator in the Czech market. T-Mobile is an integrated operator: in addition to telecommunications services, it offers comprehensive ICT solutions not only for companies, but also for other organizations and individuals. It provides outstanding services in the high-speed network, which was proved repeatedly by benchmark testing performed by umlaut (former P3) with Best-in-Test seal.

T-Mobile Czech Republic places emphasis on taking a responsible approach to the environment and society. It adheres to fair business practices, helps beneficial applications and services to see the light of day, supports non-profit organizations, small businesses and individuals, and lends a helping hand whenever crisis situations arise. The company’s employees serve as volunteers in many places across the entire Czech Republic.

More information about the company is available at www.t-mobile.cz, www.t-press.cz (the portal for journalists) and www.t-mobile.cz/pomahame (information on the company’s CSR activities).

Contact details of the press unit: press@t-press.cz.