Priority Wireless Adds 4th European Territory With Award Of Broadband Wireless License In Finland

United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) today announced that its wireless communications subsidiary, Priority Wireless, has secured another Broadband Fixed Wireless Access licence, this time in Finland. This brings to four the number of European countries in which Priority Wireless has won wireless licences, three of which have been awarded in the past month.

The Finnish licence is a 26 GHz Broadband Fixed Wireless Access licence which covers the nine most populous regions in Finland, including the capital Helsinki. The licence was granted by Finland's regulatory authority, the Telecommunications Administration Centre, following a rigorous process which recognised Priority Wireless's expertise in the development and operation of wireless distribution networks in Europe. The annual license fee will be approximately 12K EUR.

Commenting on the licence award, Jeff Ross, Managing Director of Priority Wireless, said: "This license is another part of our pan-European broadband wireless strategy, it's great news. Finland combined with Norway helps create a Nordic community of interest. The Finland licence adds almost two million in population coverage, bringing our license footprint to over 50 million potential users. The license conditions require a small portion of the network to be implemented by May 2001. We have already begun implementation plans and expect to start rolling out the network later this year."

Mark Schneider, UPC's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said: "Priority Wireless' work in Finland adds another country to the UPC footprint. We hope to begin offering our high speed Internet and telephone services soon. Broadband Wireless distribution is an important part of UPC's growth strategy."

Fixed Wireless Access technology, also called Wireless Local Loop, will allow UPC to quickly deploy telecommunications networks to serve both residential and business customers.

UPC and Priority Wireless are currently participating in broadband wireless local loop concessions in several countries and intend to pursue future opportunities across Europe.

Priority Wireless, a UPC subsidiary, is dedicated to developing business opportunities in wireless communications across Europe. Priority Wireless reflects UPC's interest in exploring the development of these new technologies as a means of distributing its Broadband services. UPC currently has Broadband wireless licences in Norway, Finland, Spain and Switzerland representing population coverage of over 50 million. Priority Wireless is aggressively pursuing wireless local loop licences throughout Europe and intends to deploy wireless technology to extend the reach of UPC's networks.

United Pan-Europe Communications (AEX: "UPC"; NASDAQ: "UPCOY") is one of the most innovative broadband communications companies in Europe and owns and operates the largest pan-European group of broadband communications networks. UPC provides cable television, telephony, high-speed Internet access and programming services in thirteen countries across Europe and in Israel. As of February 29, 2000, on an aggregate basis, UPC's systems passed approximately 10.7 million homes with more than 6.9 million basic cable subscribers. In addition, UPC systems had 249,700 residential telephony lines and 18,300 business telephony lines as well as 150,000 residential Internet subscribers and 3,700 business Internet subscribers. UPC is a consolidated subsidiary of Denver based United GlobalCom Inc.