Press Releases

Budapest, May 15, 2002

Today, Matáv signed the network interconnection agreements required by the new statutory regulations with eTel Magyarország Kft. and with GTS - Datanet. On the basis of the agreements the interconnection of the networks of Matáv and eTel and Matáv and GTS - Datanet can begin, enabling subscribers of these carriers to reach one another.

The negotiations started at the end of March, after a compromise solution had been reached on the interpretation of the relevant regulations.

The agreements are based on the Reference Interconnection Offer (RIO) Matáv submitted to the Communications Arbitration Committee. Since the RIO has not been officially approved yet, the agreements made on the basis of the draft are considered only as temporary understanding between the parties. The final contents of the agreements will be developed after having received the approval of the RIO from the Communications Arbitration Committee, when any changes will be entered in the agreements. When the parties incorporate the modifications, if necessary, they will also correct with retroactive effect the settlements used in the transitional period.

With the present solution the preparation and implementation of network interconnection can start without the parties' having to undertake final commitments in respect of the contents of the interconnection agreements.