Mobile Internet Becomes Reality in the Paegas Network Thanks to the GPRS Technology

• RadioMobil is one of the worlds first operators investing into GPRS
• Initial RadioMobils investments into the GPRS technology will exceed DEM 20 million and the final volume of investments is estimated to be up to CZK 1 billion.
• Paegas GSM network will enter into the third millenium as the network of the â?žsecond and half" generation

"Implementation of the GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) technology into GSM mobile networks will allow mobile Internet access in the very meaning. The Paegas network will be one of the worlds first networks to offer GPRS based services to its customers," said Klaus Tebbe, General Director of RadioMobil.

The RadioMobil company has concluded contract with Motorola company - American telecommunication equipment manufacturer, which cooperates with Cisco company in the GPRS project - on the GPRS technology delivery and implementation into the Paegas network. "Initial investments required for the GPRS technology implementation into the Paegas network will exceed DEM 20 million i.e. over CZK 400 million. The final volume of investments is expected to achieve up to CZK 1 billion," mentioned Klaus Tebbe and he added: "We have always designed our new services with the objective of making them as simple for operation as possible, further extending mobile telephone usage efficiency. We have decided for Motorolas solution because it offered us a high quality and sophisticated system, which can be moreover easily implemented into our network. Motorola, being one of the worlds greatest telecommunication equipment manufacturers, also cooperates with the Cisco company belonging to the most renowned Internet communication equipment vendors."

"Basically, it is possible to say that once an user turns on the GSM mobile telephone, he will be "online" similarly as when connected to a corporate network in his office. It will be no more necessary to check for new mail because it will be delivered immediately after turning the telephone on. Similarly, it will be possible to perform automatic synchronization between a corporate planning system and the mobile telephone diary," said Robert Chvátal, RadioMobils Marketing Director, when outlining some of the possibilities offered by the GPRS technology implementation. The technology is based on the packet data transmission using the IP protocol. It always utilizes at least one transmission channel at each transmitter. "It will not be necessary to connect a mobile telephone to the Internet because it will become its integral part thanks to the GPRS," specified Robert Chvátal. It is not necessary to establish a data connection in order to transfer data because everything takes place automatically. Theoretically, it is possible to achieve the transfer speed of up to 115 kbps and the mobile connection will represent a real competitor of ISDN. "Even people without an equipment for connection to Internet or e-mail will have everything directly in their GSM mobile telephone thanks to the GPRS technology," noted Robert Chvátal.

"The new technology represents the brightest evidence of continuing convergence in the telecommunication sector where differences between the world of fixed and mobile communication and the world of computers and computer networks are slowly removed. Telephone is not just a voice communication tool - it also forms the part of the Internet," explained Robert Chvátal. Thanks to the GPRS, every Paegas mobile telephone owner will be able to stay in connection with intranet and other corporate systems including electronic diary as if sitting in the office. GPRS based services will further facilitate so called teleworking when employees do not have to sit in office but they can work anywhere with the same comfort and access to important data. To be able to utilize the GPRS based services, users will need not only a GSM network supporting this standard but also an appropriate handset enabling the GPRS usage. All manufacturers are already working on implementation of this technology into their products and it is expected that first handsets supporting GPRS will appear on the market already in the half of 2000. All new GSM mobile telephones should then support this standard automatically.

"RadioMobil has several times invested into the latest state-of-the-art technologies in advance and it has been often the worlds first GSM network operator to offer such new technology based services. The same situation now takes place with GPRS and we are looking forward to starting the provision of new services," added Tereza Kakosová. Cisco and Motorola plan to invest US$ 1 billion together into the wireless Internet development within the next four or five years. Motorola is the worlds leader in the area of integrated communication solutions and solutions utilizing embedded electronic components. Cisco Systems Inc., is the worlds leading company in the area of Internet networking solutions.

RadioMobil, joint stock company operates the GSM network named Paegas. The most important company shareholders are ÄŚeské Radiokomunikace a.s. (51%) and CMobil international consortium, which owns 49% of shares. CMobil consortium is formed by the worlds greatest mobile operator T-Mobil (Germany), Italian operator TIM, PVT, TMP and SKS. Today, the Paegas GSM network covers over 96% of Czech population. Paegas customers can travel to 67 countries and utilize roaming services in 135 networks with their mobile telephone. Over 550,000 customers utilize the Paegas GSM network services at present.

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).

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