Netgem and Internet Ireland Go to School Irish and French Schools to be Linked for the First Time Via Internet TV

Business Wire, May 15, 2000

Business Editors

CANNES, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2000

Internet Ireland, in partnership with Netgem SA, is to provide free Internet access via television to two elementary schools using Netgem's netbox. The Irish and French students will be linked via Internet on TV for a real-time project in international studies.

"Until now, few of the children have had the chance for hands-on experience with the Internet. Both Internet Ireland and Netgem view the cross-border link as an opportunity to create Internet on TV solutions for education, and as the first step to building a larger Europe-wide program for schools to connect to the Internet via TV," said Michael Branagan, Managing Director, Internet Ireland.

Internet Ireland is using Netgem's technology solution, the netbox, for its new portal UNISON. Internet Ireland plans to distribute up to 20,000 netboxes in the first phase of its deployment strategy. These netboxes will distributed throughout the country and will allow access to the Internet via a conventional TV. UNISON provides free internet access, free e-mail, and on-line shopping, bringing together the content and advertising partners of 38 of Ireland's leading national and regional newspapers, creating the largest on-line source for Irish news and information in the world.

Under the pioneering Internet project, students in the communities of Skerries in Ireland, and Doue in France will be creating their own websites with homepages and links that will complement the children's classes and will help them in researching special projects. Student's families will also be given netboxes so that they can share in the joint learning endeavor from home.

Independent News & Media PLC - a $2bn media conglomerate - is fully listed on both the Irish and London Stock Exchanges. Independent is a fast growing global media and communications group with significant interests in newspaper and magazine publishing, outdoor advertising, radio, pay TV and electronic media. Independent has operations in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Portugal, and South Africa. In March 1999, the Group established a new division, Independent Digital, to consolidate and enhance the Group's existing internet activities and to develop a coherent new media infrastructure across all its operations. In Ireland this included taking an effective 75% stake in Internet Ireland, subsequently relaunched under the Unison brand. Independent Digital is also actively pursuing opportunities fixed-line telephony and - through its effective 70% stake iTouch - in mobile data. www.unison.ie.

Netgem SA is Europe's leading developer and provider of comprehensive solutions offering Internet services through television. The Netgem Solution enables businesses to build strong one-to-one Web-based relationships with their customers by providing a simple access to online services. Our cost-effective solution is designed to enable everyone with a television set to access the Internet and participate in the Internet revolution. Netgem's technology operates on a Linux-based open software platform and a thin-client access device. www.netgem.com