Budapest,

In an effort to contribute to building the information society, Matáv introduced new internet schemes in August 2002, to which it added new offers last spring: as from March 1, 2003 Matáv has also been offering wholesale the 15-hour and 40-hour internet access packages which were formerly sold retail only, and has also put on the market a new 100-hour package. These packages have reduced internet usage costs by an average of 25%.

Under the relevant agreement, the government and the service providers have taken equal share in subsidizing these discount internet packages. The state support was available till December 31, 2003, since that time Matáv has itself been financing the maintenance of these discount packages. After the state support was withdrawn, Matáv made it possible for its customers to use the discount 15-hour, 40-hour and 100-hour internet packages at the same cheaper rates till June 30, 2004. Since Matáv considers it an important goal to promote the mass use of the internet in Hungary, it has decided to continue to provide the KezdőNet, HaladóNet and IntenzívNet packages for customers who subscribed to these packages before July 1, 2004, at the former discount rates for another half year (till December 31, 2004). However, it will stop the sale of these discount packages on July 1.

This decision gives subscribers of the KezdőNet, HaladóNet and IntenzívNet packages enough time to select a new internet tariff package. Matáv has developed new wholesale offers and the internet service providers will approach the customers with concrete package offers based on them. For small-time dial-up internet users, Matáv offers the Open internet services, which they can use without having to make a special contract or pay a monthly fee. Customers who choose broadband access, can order the ADSL service from Matáv’s internet service provider partners or from Matáv itself (Matáv ADSL Komplex, Komplex Plusz).