[Teligent-Jazztel Partnership Wins Nationwide Spectrum License in Spain]
VIENNA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 10, 2000--Teligent, a global leader in broadband communications, and its Spanish partner Jazztel, today were awarded a national license to provide fixed wireless, broadband voice and data services to customers throughout Spain.
The license for radio spectrum in the 26 GHz band was one of only three national licenses granted by the Spanish regulatory authority, the Ministry of Development. The licensed spectrum covers all of Spain.
"We're delighted the Spanish regulator recognized the breadth and depth of the Teligent-Jazztel partnership with a national license award," said Teligent International President Richard J. Hanna. "Combining Teligent's technical expertise and deployment experience with Jazztel's local fiber optic networks, the partnership will offer one of the best solutions for bringing competitive local and Internet access to business and residential customers throughout Spain."
The joint venture was formed in November 1999 by Teligent and Jazztel, a competitive communications company serving Spain and Portugal, to apply for the national fixed wireless spectrum license.
Antonio Carro, Chief Executive Officer of Jazztel commented, "We knew from the start Teligent was the right partner for us to successfully win a license and now build out the infrastructure. Our partnership really is only just beginning and we are sure we will be successful together in the Spanish market."
With the new license, the partnership will launch high-bandwidth communications services using Teligent's advanced broadband SmartWave(TM) technology. Under initial plans, the new networks would cover more than 100 cities throughout Spain. Jazztel is building a nationwide fiber optic network connecting Spanish business centers with direct broadband access.
Spain is the fourth international market in which Teligent or a Teligent partnership has been granted authority to offer fixed wireless communications services. In addition to Spain, Teligent has fixed wireless licenses in Germany, Hong Kong and Argentina.
Last week, Teligent announced a partnership with Telcom Ventures to build fixed wireless networks in Argentina with the 24-25 GHz spectrum licenses awarded to affiliates of Telcom Ventures.
In February, Teligent announced a major partnership with Mannesmann Arcor to build and operate fixed wireless networks with the 26 GHz spectrum licenses awarded to Teligent and the 3.5 GHz and 26 GHz licenses awarded to Mannesmann Arcor.
In January, Teligent won a market-wide license to provide fixed wireless services in Hong Kong with partners HKNet and CCT Telecom. Teligent has applied for spectrum licenses to develop fixed wireless networks in France with LD COM and Artemis. Teligent also is exploring other opportunities in Europe, Latin America and Asia.
About Jazztel
Jazztel is a leading facilities-based telecommunications and Internet service provider that is constructing a fiber-optic telecommunications network to be the first Iberian competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC). Jazztel already has over 4,200 kilometers of backbone fully operational as well as over 350 km of local access networks.
The Jazztel group is integrated as well by Jazztel Internet Factory, S.A. an Internet content provider (offering the portal ya.com) and by a Portuguese subsidiary, Jazztel Telecomunicacoes, which was recently awarded a wireless access license in Portugal. |
