ATN Aterian Plc

RNS Number:4258R
Atlantic Telecom Group PLC
25 September 2000


      Atlantic takes #9 million stake in Dutch DSL operator
       Secures low cost entry into The Netherlands market

Atlantic Telecom Group PLC announces today that it has accelerated its
strategic drive into key European broadband markets by subscribing 
Euro 15million (#9 million) in cash for a 65% equity stake in Telepartner Plus
BV ("TPP").  TPP already has agreements with KPN Telecom NV ("KPN") to install
its DSL equipment into most of the available KPN exchanges across The
Netherlands.

Atlantic intends to roll out, through TPP, value-added broadband services to a
potential 500,000 Dutch SME customers.  These services will initially be
offered indirectly through ISPs, mirroring Atlantic's strategy in Germany. 
Coverage will be concentrated around the key business districts of Amsterdam,
Rotterdam and Utrecht.

Atlantic expects to install the first equipment, which will be supplied by
Nokia, into the exchanges during the final quarter of 2000.  Atlantic plans to
fund the rollout programme through existing resources, taking advantage of the
capital savings inherent in its revised SME-focused strategy announced earlier
this year.

TPP was formed in 1999 and has positioned itself to take advantage of local
loop unbundling in The Netherlands.  TPP will continue to be managed on a day
to day basis by its three founders, who indirectly own the balance of the
equity. The DSL rollout will be under the direction of Mark Daeche, Atlantic's
Special Projects Director, who is also responsible for Atlantic's DSL rollout in
Germany.

Graham J Duncan, Executive Chairman of Atlantic, commented:

"We are delighted to have secured this low cost entry to the Dutch market
through TPP.  The telecoms market in The Netherlands has already undergone
substantial deregulation and is highly attractive to Atlantic.  In the key
cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht, we shall also benefit from linking
in with the fibre rings being constructed by our strategic partner, Metromedia
Fiber.

As operators are finding in a number of deregulating European markets, the
practical difficulties of getting into the incumbent operator's facilities are
significant.  Those operators who can get into these exchanges early have a
huge competitive advantage a situation we are now in a position to exploit in
both Germany and The Netherlands."

For further information, please contact:

Patrick Toyne Sewell/Sara Thomas, Citigate Dewe Rogerson
020 7638 9571

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