24 August 2000

Hutchison Global Crossing (HGC) today launched its broadband Internet access service under the brand name of HutchCITY Broadband. Tailored to the needs of local residential market, HutchCITY Broadband brings users ultra-speed Internet connection enabled by the truly 10Mbps 2-way transmission available in town. The Company's broadband portal www.hutchcitybb.com was also launched today with a view to bring users the latest audio, visual and interactive contents.

Under the intital phase of service launch, HutchCITY Broadband covers Hunghom, Tin Shui Wai, Ma On Shan and Kwun Tong, with a plan to expand to other districts in the future. In a press conference today, Ms. Karen Tang, Director of Multimedia Services of HGC, said that the Company will set service quality as the top priority of broadband's development strategy. Prior to the actual roll-out of the service, the Company has conducted a thorough and detailed internal technical testing and customer trial survey, of which a minimum of 90% of quality satisfaction is required to meet the service standard. Test criteria include connectivity, download/upload speed, transmission stability, web site layout and content, etc. The four areas under the initial phase of service launch have successfully completed the tests with satisfactory results.

To ensure customers to get full technical and enquiries support, HutchCITY Broadband has set up a dedicated 24-hour customer service hotline 1222 as the Company's pledge for service quality.

HutchCITY Broadband offers two usage plans for selection. With the low usage plan, users are entitled to a total of 20-hour free broadband Internet access at $198/month ($2/hour for extra hours), while the high usage plan allows a total of 100-hour free Internet access at $298/month ($2/hour for extra hours) (Appendix I). With HutchCITY Broadband, customers are assigned with dedicated connections, which mean telephone lines are free from Internet access. Thus no PNETs charges will be incurred.

In addition, HutchCITY Broadband is also offering a privilege plan for all successful applications made before December 31, 2000. Customers will enjoy an unlimited access package at $220/month. And starting from today, all HutchCITY Broadband pre-registrations made via customer hotline 1222 or www.hutchcity.com will also enjoy the above mentioned benefits when the service rolls out to users' areas and installations are successfully made.

Ms. Karen Tang, Director of Multimedia Services of HGC added that the coverage of HutchCITY Broadband service will reach to 300 residential buildings at the end of this year. Also, the service will be extended to reach up to 50% of Hong Kong households by 2003.

www.hutchcitybb.com, HutchCITY Broadband's portal, was also launched today with enriched contents from partners including Warner Bros., Fox Film, AVEX, BMG, Mei Ah to provide local, Hollywood and Europe's latest blockbusters, movie trailers as well as pop music video. Customers can download the hottest computer, TV, online games and software empowered by 10Mbps ultra speed transmission, not to mention the enriched contents from a total of 11 channels covering sports, news and travel information.

HutchCITY Broadband will invest HK$10 billion in the coming three years. The non-shared 10Mbps bandwidth and highly scalable network capacity mean that increased users will not affect transmission speed. Unlike other service providers, which focus more on download capability, HutchCITY Broadband allows both upload and download speed at 10Mbps. Besides, users simply need to install an Ethernet card, meaning broadband Internet access at even lower upfront costs. With the underground fibre optics network and data lines located inside switching centres, transmission quality and stability are best protected from environmental and climatic factors such as typhoons, frosts and heavy rains. The service quality of HutchCITY Broadband is therefore further guaranteed. HutchCITY Broadband's highly scalable nature and its Ethernet technology support not only a maximum transmission speed of up to 1 Gbps, but also the ever-increasing demand for broadband services and applications in the local market.

Notes to Editors

• Hutchison Global Crossing is now operating a wide range of telecom services including local phone, international calling, Internet access, broadband services and the Electronic Service Delivery Scheme.

• Hutchison Global Crossing is a 50/50 joint venture between Hutchison Whampoa Limited and Global Crossing Limited, which was established in January 2000. It combines Hutchison Telecommunications (Hong Kong) Limited's fixed line and Internet networks in Hong Kong with Global Crossing's international fiber optic broadband cable and its expanding portal facilities, Internet applications and data services, which help to explore strategic development opportunities in Hong Kong.

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