SONERA, TELEFONICA AND ORANGE ANNOUNCE JOINT PARTICIPATION IN
GERMANYS 3G AUCTION
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SONERA CORPORATION STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 1 (2)
April 28, 2000, 4.00 p.m.
SONERA, TELEFONICA AND ORANGE ANNOUNCE JOINT PARTICIPATION IN
GERMANYS 3G AUCTION
Group 3G, a consortium of Sonera (30%), Telef¢nica (40%) and
Orange (30%), has today officially announced its participation in
the auction for Germanys third generation mobile communications
licences scheduled to begin at the turn of July and August.
There are 82 million inhabitants in Germany, and the countrys
mobile communications market is the third largest in Europe, next
only to those of Italy and the United Kingdom. Germany has the
wealthiest economy in Europe, and the countrys mobile
communications penetration is 32%.
The number of the licences to be auctioned in Germany will vary
from four to six, since the actual object of the auction consists
of 5-MHz channel bundles. Each participant should make a bid for
at least two, but not for more than three bundles. The auction
will continue until there are no further bids for any of the
bundles.
The shareholders of Group 3G will finance the licence, if granted,
in proportion to their holdings. Sonera will account for its share
by selling assets and raising its share capital, if necessary.
Sonera Corporation (HEX:SRA, NASDAQ: SNRA) is an international
forerunner in mobile communications and mobile-based services and
applications. By combining its expertise in mobile communications,
the Internet and service provision, Sonera aims to develop into a
global communications operator and provider of transactions and
content services. In 1999, Soneras revenues amounted to EUR 1.85
billion, and profit before extraordinary items and taxes was EUR
0.5 billion. Sonera already has a third generation mobile
communications licence is Finland. In addition, Soneras
associated company Xfera (Sonera 15%) holds a third generation
mobile communications licence in Spain.
Telef¢nica, one of the five largest telephony providers in the
world, account for more than 20 million subscribers spread across
Europe, Latin America and North Africa. Telef¢nica also manages
Terra, one of the leading Internet companies in Europe, with more
than 630 million monthly visits to their web pages and Euro 19.4
billion stock market capitalisation. Telef¢nica group revenues
were Euro 23.0 billion, 37.3 % originated outside Spanish
frontiers. Telef¢nica has a third generation mobile communications
licence in Spain, the companys home country.
Orange is the UK's most advanced digital mobile network, with over
6 million customers. Since its launch in April 1994, Orange has
continually changed the market, with the introduction of
innovative new products and services, such as the launch of
Wildfire,the world's first voice activated digital assistant.
Orange is now considered one of Europes best known mobile phone
brands.
Orange continues to expand its international operations, winning
GSM licences in Austria, Belgium and Switzerland, and has licensed
its unique brand to network operators in Australia, India, Israel
and Hong Kong. Orange recently won the UMTS E licence in the UK,
and is also involved in UMTS through its participation in the
Xfera (Orange 7 %) consortium which recently won a license in
Spain.
The companies on Internet:
sonera.com
telefonica.com
orange.com
SONERA CORPORATION
Jari Jaakkola
Executive Vice President
Corporate Communications & IR
For further information, please contact:
Senior Vice President Pirjo Kek„l„inen-Torvinen,
International Business Developmet
Tel: +358 2040 63613
e-mail: pirjo.kekalainen-torvinen@sonera.com
DISTRIBUTION:
HEX Helsinki Exchanges
Major media
Source: Helsinki 2000-04-28, Kauppalehti Online
kauppalehti.fi
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