TIW's Subsidiary, Dolphin Telecom plc, Chooses Nokia to Supply French TETRA Network

Business Wire, Jan 14, 1999

MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 14, 1999--TIW (NASDAQ:TIWIF) (ME:TIW.) (TSE:TIW.) (NASDAQ:TIWIF) Telesystem International Wireless Inc. (TIW) announces that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dolphin Telecom plc (Dolphin), has selected Nokia to provide infrastructure equipment for its digital wireless communications network in France. The contract will be part of Dolphin's initial US$200 million infrastructure investment programme in France over the next two years to provide national coverage throughout the country.

Under the contract, Nokia will supply and install base stations, switches and a network management system to Dolphin's French subsidiary, Dolphin Telecom S.A. (formerly known as Regiocom S.A.). In addition, Nokia will provide installation and other support services to Dolphin.

Delivery starts immediately with initial service planned for introduction during 1999. Nokia is currently supplying a TETRA network to Dolphin in the UK which will launch its initial commercial service in the second quarter of 1999. The award of this contract for France will facilitate the creation by the year 2000 of a seamless digital wireless network between the two countries.

"Nokia was chosen because of its ability to deliver a system with the high level of advanced features and functionality required by demanding professional mobile users," commented Ted Beddoes, Chief Executive Officer of Dolphin Telecom. "Nokia brings its acknowledged wealth of experience and skills in TETRA mobile telecommunications, not only from its prior contract with us in the UK, but also from its other significant TETRA network contracts across Europe," added Mr. Beddoes. Handsets for the network will be supplied through Dolphin's existing contracts with Nokia and Motorola.

In conjunction with the contract award, Dolphin Telecom S.A. obtained a vendor facilitated US$120 million debt financing commitment to fund the rollout of its wireless network in France and associated working capital requirements. This commitment, combined with liquidities available, will fully fund the first phase of infrastructure investment in France.

In addition, Dolphin is also engaged in various discussions with regards to additionnal financing arrangements to finance the continued build-out of the Company's TETRA networks in Germany and other Western European markets.

Dolphin, which groups TIW's SMR and ESMR activities in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium, Spain and Portugal, is the largest SMR operator in Europe, with over 200,000 analog subscribers and licenses covering over 210 million POPs.

TIW is a global wireless operator. It develops, acquires, owns and operates wireless telecommunications networks in developing and developed markets throughout the world. In addition to SMR services provided by Dolphin in Europe, TIW provides digital cellular services in Romania, Brazil, India and China as well as paging services in Mexico and the Netherlands. TIW is listed on the Montreal Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "TIW" and on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol "TIWIF".