GTS Connects Vienna to European Fiber Network

Global TeleSystems (GTS) (NYSE: GTS; Easdaq: GTSG; Frankfurt: GTS), the leading provider of borderless broadband and e-Business services across Europe and beyond, today announced that its high capacity European network now reaches Vienna, Austria.

GTS is now the only European network operator offering seamless broadband services to Vienna, reinforcing the company's position as the most extensive network and service provider in Europe. Overall, GTS's borderless broadband network currently stretches 16,866 kilometers with 29 cities "on-net" in 12 European countries. The company plans to expand this to 25,000 kilometers and 50 on-net cities by 2001.

Initially, the high-speed GTS network will serve Vienna with 100 Gbps of capacity, including 2.5 Gbps of Internet capacity, extending the industry-leading performance levels of the GTS IP backbone.

H. Brian Thompson, chairman and chief executive officer of GTS, commented: "Vienna is a key gateway to new destinations in Central Europe. Our launch there is yet another example of our commitment to stay well ahead of our competitors in terms of network reach and seamless connectivity on a truly pan-European basis. And, true to our intent of becoming the Internet platform that drives e-Business throughout Europe, we have invested in the most advanced optical IP infrastructure available from day one."