04/16/2002

BT Ignite opts for DSL from QSC

Munich, April 16, 2002 - Munich based BT Ignite, BT Group's provider of managed network services, solutions and outsourcing, has signed an agreement with QSC AG, Cologne, an alternative DSL provider in Germany, for the delivery of speedw@y-DSL connections. This latest addition to its access product portfolio allows BT Ignite to offer SDSL-based solutions such as virtual private networks (VPN) and Internet access as well as DSL-based integrated voice/data services in the future.

speedw@y-DSL is a high speed Internet connection based on SDSL technology, customised to suit the special requirements of BT Ignite customers. QSC delivers the end-user broadband connection, BT Ignite delivers the service package, provides customer care and writes the invoice. BT Ignite will offer its DSL-based services in every city within QSC's footprint, which currently covers more than forty of Germany's largest cities.

Dr. Wolfgang Essig, BT Ignite's VP Central Europe, explains: "DSL is one of the most important access technologies in the telecommunications market. We want to make this technology available to our customers. QSC is a partner who stands for top quality, reliability and competence."

"BT Ignite is one of the large German IT and telecommunications providers," says Frank P. Urbas, QSC's Head of Sales for business customers. "This alliance allows us to tap a further important customer segment in need of sophisticated DSL applications."

The QSC DSL connection is the ideal leased line replacement for companies who need large bandwidth for effective data communication at attractive prices. With its dense footprint, high performance and reliability QSC's DSL network has made a name for itself. Germany is the largest DSL market in Western Europe for business and residential customers today, and it will continue to grow. According to IDC-statistics* there will be around 11.9 million DSL connections in Germany as early as 2005. More than every second business will have a broadband connection by that time.

* Source: IDC Report: 04/2001 European Broadband Services, 2000-2005

QSC AG (QSC) is an alternative DSL provider in Germany, supplying business and residential customers with broadband leased line connections over ordinary telephone lines, as well as innovative services of the highest quality. The company now serves more than 40 of the largest cities in Germany with its broadband network infrastructure, thus reaching more than 20 million potential users. QSC currently employs a workforce of 280. Further information under www.qsc.de.

For further information, contact:

QSC AG
Claudia Zimmermann
Spokeperson
Fon: 0221/6698-235
Fax: 0221/6698-289
Mail: presse@qsc.de