Budapest, September 17, 2003 15:00

Matáv continues to extend to additional small localities its ADSL programs launched in June 2003. The number of ADSL subscriptions has, by now, exceeded 70 thousand, and the number of orders registered in the framework of the ADSL program for small localities is well over 900.

The ADSL service in getting available in more and more cities and larger localities and, according to the plans, by the end of September 106 settlements will have access to it. Matáv has drawn up a list of 800 small localities in Matáv's service area where the technical conditions of the ADSL service can be provided. In case of a specific number of applications, Matáv guarantees to provide the service in these localities. In the first phase - from June 23 - the inhabitants of 42 small localities have the opportunity to register their demand at www.adsl.matav.hu on the Matáv home page. This is the way Martonvásár, Leányfalu and Ceglédbercel have reached the "threshold" within a short time. The list of localities published is being continuously expanded and, in the second phase by the end of August, an additional 76 localities will be put on it.

It is a key objective for Matáv to make available the ADSL service offering lightning-fast broadband internet access, in most of its service area within the shortest possible time. For this end, following development implemented in the third quarter of 2003, Matáv will introduce a new method. In case a predetermined number of applications is received from a locality, Matáv will accelerate the process of making available the ADSL service in that area.

Ferenc Kocsis, head of the Data Services Office of the Residential Services Line of Business said that, with the help of this completely new method, would-be customers will have a chance to accelerate the investment. This means that the demand expressed in a particular locality will have direct effect on the availability of the service there. It is also worth submitting applications from such areas which are currently not on the list of the small locality development program.

As a first step of registering themselves at www.adsl.matav.hu, customers can select the internet service provider they intend to use. Then, they can obtain information about further conditions of the registration directly from the selected internet service provider. Matáv will provide the ADSL service at wholesale prices for contracted internet service providers, who will offer the possibility of registration for their residential and business customers. For the registration, customers will have to provide their name, installation address, Matáv fixed telephone number and account number, for which they intend to order the ADSL access. Only one registration will be accepted for one telephone number and, in the case of ISDN connection, only the order for the lead number will be considered valid.

Matáv will not grant preference to any Internet provider in this program.