Big ATHM news just out!
Monday June 19, 12:01 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Excite@Home
Excite@Home Launches Broadband Service in Japan
With No. 1 Cable Co in Japan, J-COM
MEGURO-KU, Tokyo, June 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Excite@Home (Nasdaq: ATHM - news) today announced the launch of its
broadband Internet service in Japan, marking the first broadband service to rollout on a national scale in Japan. @Home Japan
will provide the service in partnership with Jupiter Telecommunications Co., Ltd. (J-COM), the largest Japanese cable
company, and trading company Sumitomo Corp. to roll out the high-speed service in the Tokyo metropolitan area and northern
Kyushu.
(Photo: newscom.com )
Japan hosts the second largest Internet market in the world and, through J-COM's cable networks, @Home Japan's footprint
covers 5.1 million homes in Japan, representing more than 10 percent of all Japanese households. The @Home Japan service is
thoroughly localized and integrates rich broadband content, including local news videos; financial news; lifestyle videos, such as
cooking; and offers instant online software downloads. The service complements @Home international availability in Australia,
Benelux and Germany, contributing to the Company's more than 13.5 homes passed internationally.
``Through our existing Excite@Home international ventures, we already have a substantial lead in broadband access and media
services in both Europe and Asia-Pacific,'' said John O'Farrell, executive vice president of International, Excite@Home. ``The
Japanese consumer is a very sophisticated user and increasingly is demanding the more interesting and useful interactive content
that only broadband can deliver. Our commercial launch in Japan underscores our commitment and ability to execute on the
delivery of broadband services around the world.''
The launch is a result of Excite@Home's substantial investments in the major expansion of its international business. Mirroring
its U.S. strategy, Excite@Home's international strategy is to aggressively expand its broadband distribution footprint in all major
overseas markets by leveraging cable, DSL, satellite and fixed wireless while continuing to build a strong Excite-based media
business.
In April the Company announced that it expects its overseas ventures to record approximately $80 million in total revenue this
year, an increase of 300 percent over 1999. Excite's international operations outside of North America generated more than
1.1 billion page views in the quarter ended March 31, 2000, and its international broadband footprint represents more than
13.5 million homes passed. Excite@Home has a broad international presence including in 11 countries. The @Home
broadband subscriber business operates in Japan, Australia, the Netherlands, Belgium and is planned for Germany. The Excite
media business operates in 10 countries around the world, including Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Canada,
Spain and France. Excite@Home expects to launch local versions of the @Home 2000 broadband online service, featuring
Excite content, in every market in which the Company has established a broadband footprint.
ABOUT EXCITE@HOME
Excite@Home is the leading broadband online service provider, offering residential and commercial broadband services, with a
global footprint of 87 million homes under long-term cable and DSL contract. Excite@Home offers consumers broadband
services over cable-modem, DSL and other ``last-mile'' connections and businesses high-speed commercial services.
Excite@Home has approximately 13.5 million cable franchise homes under contract outside of North America and localized
versions of the Excite service in 10 leading international markets.
This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Exchange Act of
1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the safe harbors created by those sections.
These forward-looking statements include statements relating to the implementation of the wireless initiative and wireless
functionality, services and content within Excite@Home and the commercial acceptance and use of such functionality, services
and content. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors, including the growth of the wireless consumer
market, the ability to create and implement wireless functionality, services and content within Excite@Home; Excite@Home's
ability to achieve subscriber growth goals; agreements with and dependence on the actions of our cable partners; ability to
generate revenue from Internet agreements; and ability to continue to attract traffic to our Web sites. The matters discussed in
this press release also involve risks and uncertainties described in Excite@Home's filings with the SEC. Excite@Home assumes
no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.
NOTE: Excite@Home, @Home, @Work, Excite, Blue Mountain, Excite Planner, Excite Inbox, the stylized ``@'' logo and
MatchLogic are trademarks of or licensed to At Home Corporation and may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other
brand names are trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE: Excite@Home |
