Maritime Telecommunications Network and BT Link Cruise Ships To Cell Phone Network

Business Wire, March 15, 2000

Business, Travel & Lifestyle Editors/Technology Writers

MIRAMAR, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 15, 2000

Cruise-Ship Passengers and Staff Will be Able to use Their Cell

Phones While at Sea Anywhere in the World for the First Time

Maritime Telecommunications Network (MTN), a subsidiary of American Tower's ATC Teleports Inc., of Fairfax, VA (NYSE:AMT), announced today it will provide the satellite communications network for a new service developed and patented by BT A&M, BT's satellite communications division. This new service, known as `Cruise Connect', will enable passengers and staff on cruise ships to make and receive calls from their cell phones while at sea.

Using the new service, has solved the problem of passenger vessels cruising beyond the reach of cellular signals. Passengers and staff can make and receive calls on their cell phones in exactly the same way as they would on land. Discrete "mini" cellular stations are installed on the vessels themselves. These stations are linked, via the MTN satellite communications network, to a mobile switching center within the land based cellular network.

In addition to providing global cell phone coverage while aboard the ship by using MTN's ShipNet technology, an IP broadcast network with a continuous full-time data link, `Cruise Connect' gives passengers and staff the added benefit of being directly contacted on their normal cellular number with the flexibility of the call charges appearing on their regular cellular bill.

Stephen Brunshill, BT's product manager for `Cruise Connect' said: "The successful integration of satellite and cellular communications has enabled us to extend the cellular network. Cruise passengers can now benefit from the growing convenience offered by mobile communications while at sea. If they wish, passengers can make and receive calls at any time during their holiday and will have the cost charged to their normal bill. This development allows cruise passengers to relax in the knowledge that they can contact their families and friends at any time or place during their holidays, without moving from their deckchairs or having to pay separately for the calls."

The service will be compatible with future mainstream cellular developments such as GPRS and UMTS, which will provide even more flexibility by allowing mobile Internet access.

Bradford Briggs, MTN's Senior Vice President & General Manger states: "MTN is excited to bring the extended convenience of connecting cellular networks with vessels served by MTN's global C-band network. We look forward to delivering BT's `Cruise Connect' and other exciting emerging technologies to our customers."

MTN and BT are working together jointly to implement `Cruise Connect' for MTN customers.

About Maritime Telecommunications Network

Maritime Telecommunications Network (MTN), the leader in maritime communications, provides C-Band voice, fax, data and Internet communications to the cruise industry, the U.S. Navy, and to offshore oil and gas platforms around the world. MTN also provides ship-to-shore live video and radio broadcast capabilities in C- or Ku-Band. Through its Earth Station in Holmdel, N.J., it also offers international satellite voice, data and Internet services. MTN is a subsidiary of American Tower's ATC Teleports Inc., which has its technical operations center in Fairfax, VA. Further information is available on MTN's web site located at www.mtnsat.com.