MILAN, Italy, May 8, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Carrier1 International S.A. (NeuerMarkt:CJN) (Nasdaq:CONE), a leading European provider of end-to-end Internet, broadband, voice, data centre and access solutions to large users of telecommunications services, announced today that it acquired 12 new PoPs (Points of Presence) in Italy pursuant to an agreement with Windata. This will allow Carrier1 to expand its business in the peninsula beyond its current presence in Milan.
This enhanced footprint allows Carrier1 to extend its Internet, data and voice services to a much broader range of customers and supports Carrier1's strategy to supply telecommunications services not only to companies operating at the national level but to local businesses as well. Following its acquisition of the new PoP's, Carrier1 is now present in Bari, Florence, Naples, Padua, Rome and Verona as well as a number of cities in Lombardy, namely, Como, Gallarate, Lecco, Monza Saronno and Varese.
"The Italian market for connectivity services is quite different from the rest of Europe," notes Sebastiano Galantucci, Managing Director for Carrier1 Italia. "About 20-to-30% of Italian companies rely on local operators for our type of service offerings. The new PoPs will strengthen Carrier1's position in the country and allow us to become the outsourcing partner of choice for local carriers, ISPs, ASPs, Independent Software Vendors and content providers wishing to offer telecommunications infrastructures for local businesses."
In upcoming months Carrier1 will be adding new added value service packages to the portfolio of services it offers local businesses, giving them an even greater competitive edge.
About Carrier1
Carrier1 International S.A. is one of Europe's top providers of large system solutions for end-to-end Internet, broadband, voice, data-centre and dialup access communications to large users of telecommunications services with a network that spans 14,000 contracted route kilometers in 13 countries, and links 35 European cities. Carrier1 provides its clients with carrier-grade transport and network solutions as well as end-user-ready, value-added services that customers then brand and market to their respective users.
Forward-Looking Statements
The information contained in this press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "plans," "may," "will," "should" or "anticipates" or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These statements include those regarding the expected impact of the acquisition on Carrier1's business and Carrier1's intention to expand its service offerings. These statements are based on the current expectations of the management of Carrier1 and performance is subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. Such risks include but are not limited to, adverse regulatory, technological, judicial or competitive developments; decline in Carrier'1 services or products; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and services; pressure on pricing resulting from competition; unforeseen construction delays and failure to receive on a timely basis necessary permits or other governmental approvals, failure to obtain any necessary financing if management's business plan assumptions are not met, performance failure by third parties with whom Carrier1 has contracted including for the supply or maintenance of infrastructure components and by joint venture partners; the risk of termination of certain joint ventures through which Carrier1 operates; the amount of indebtedness incurred by Carrier1 and its obligations thereunder. For a more detailed discussion of these risks, uncertainties and other factors affecting the Company, please refer to the Company's prospectus and periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, including its 10-K for the year ended 31 December 2000. Corresponding filings are available at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.