HELSINKI, Finland - August 24, 2000 - Alma Media Corp. today announced with KPNQwest that it is using Cisco Systems technology to implement a Helsinki metropolitan area broadband network. The broadband network will offer enterprise and residential customers high-speed, reliable Internet connections and TV broadcast content, and will be scalable to a country-wide level.

Alma Media's broadband network is one of the industry's first ADSL networks that enables real-time TV broadcasting. The Cisco IP DSL switching architecture provides service providers the ability to offer end-to-end quality-of-service guarantees necessary for the delivery of advanced video and entertainment services to residential customers.

Jari Makijarvi, managing director at Cisco Systems Finland said, "We are delighted that Alma Media has chosen Cisco solutions to offer Finnish consumers the latest, proven, high-speed reliable access to entertainment and broadcast services. Our IP DSL switching architecture will enable Alma Media to create services such as TV broadcasting, radio, video-on-demand and new interactive services and voice to be delivered across Alma Media's broadband network."

The broadband network will originate in the Helsinki metropolitan area and will be scaled according to customer demand. The backbone network is based on Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Multiservice Routers. Connections between locations and KPNQwest will employ Cisco 6260 IP DSL Switches, and from the point of presence to the residential site with the Cisco 677 SOHO/Telecommuter ADSL Router.

"Through this implementation, Alma Media will be pioneering the area of delivering TV content to residential customers and households using this technology," Makijarvi said.