Wanadoo Launches WiFi

PARIS -- Thierry Breton, Chairman and CEO of France Telecom, announced last February the Group's commitment to WiFi. Today, Wanadoo unveils its commercial offering.

Starting May 19 Wanadoo will offer a new eXtense WiFi wireless broadband package for consumers and small businesses. The package will be available at France Telecom stores and from participating resellers.

Wireless solutions to develop broadband usage
The eXtense WiFi wireless broadband solution provides a high-speed Internet connection with no wires needed between the modem and the computer. Thanks to the modem router, several computers can share the same network.

Mobile Internet access means untethered freedom:

For example, children can play online games in their rooms, while their mother looks at the latest movie trailers on the terrace and their father checks his email from the living room.

This offer is particularly attractive for customers who use broadband on multiple computers (about 40 percent of Wanadoo broadband subscribers, both consumers or small businesses) and for families with children (also 40 percent of the subscriber base).

This new solution draws on technological expertise and innovations from France Telecom R&D research teams, spanning both new technologies and security.

Olivier Sichel, Wanadoo Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said: "The launch of Wanadoo's new WiFi package ushers in an exciting new dimension in the French Internet market. One of four Wanadoo customers now have ADSL service, and this totally secure wireless solution brings them greater freedom to surf not only whenever they want, but from wherever they want, opening up a host of new uses. This solution is matched to the needs and expectations of all our customers and perfectly illustrates our core values of proximity and simplicity, drawing on our dynamic capacity for innovation."

Convergent WiFi services with Orange
The Wanadoo WiFi package is fully compatible with Orange Hotspots, making it easy for customers to benefit from convenient wireless Internet access from a large number of public areas. Another service to be introduced in late 2003 will enable the purchase of prepaid connection time from hotspots via customers' Wanadoo account.

Wanadoo SA