Chello Broadband Expands To Latin America

chello broadband, n.v., (chello) http://www.chello.com, one of Europe's leading providers of broadband internet services to residential and business subscribers, and an operating company of United Pan Europe Communications (UPC) [AEX:UPC, Nasdaq:UPCOY], announced today plans to extend its broadband internet service throughout Latin America, making chello's broadband service now available on three continents; Europe, Australia and Latin America.

chello plans to provide high-speed broadband internet service in Latin America within the next 12 months. Managing the Latin American operation for chello broadband is Fares Nassar, regional director Latin America. Recognised by his peers as a pioneer in broadband, Nassar most recently headed-up his own company, Lotier International, a leading Latin American cable consultancy. chello purchased the assets, sales offices and staff operations of Lotier on December 31, 1999. Lotier was among the first to conduct cable modem trials for internet and telephony services in Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela.

Roger Lynch, president and CEO of chello broadband n.v. said: "We have already shown by our success in Europe that we can scale quickly on many levels," adding that chello experienced 397 percent growth in 1999 and ended January 2000 with 133,700 European subscribers in six countries. "chello's local-language approach and celebration of cultural diversity across European markets give us the expertise to successfully design and deliver specialised broadband content in Portugese and Spanish with a keen local-focus."

Mitch Clarke, managing director of sales and affiliate operations of chello broadband n.v. expanded: "We are very excited about the potential for our service in Latin America, and our strategy is to partner with broadband network operators that are large enough to provide a substantial footprint, and nimble enough to move quickly."

chello expects to roll out its service in Latin America over the next year, and is ready to partner with broadband network operators across the continent.