Telenor enters into agreement to acquire up to 30% in Thailands second largest mobile operator

Telenor will eventually acquire TAC primary and secondary shares for US$530 million at $3.75 per share. In addition, Telenor will eventually acquire UCOM secondary shares for US$189 million at US$1.75 per share. Proceeds from the transactions will be used by TAC and UCOM to reduce existing debt obligations and fund capital expenditures. The agreement is subject to certain conditions, including approvals from authorities in Thailand and Singapore.

Following completion of the transactions, TAC's major shareholders will be as follows: UCOM 40%, Telenor 30% and others including public 30%. UCOM's resulting ownership structure will be: Bencharongkul Family 22.4%, Telenor 24.9%, Somers U.K. 22.6% and others including public 30.1%. TAC is listed on the Stock Exchange of Singapore and UCOM is listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

TAC is Thailand's second largest mobile operator with approximately 1,100,000 mobile subscribers and a market share of approximately 45% as of March 31, 2000. TAC operates a nationwide GSM1800 and AMPS 800 network. Telenor will work with TAC to enhance its digital network coverage and increase capacity throughout Thailand as part of TAC's strategy to attract new customers, improve quality and service, and implement new products and services tailored for the Thai mobile market.

TAC and UCOM will have access to Telenor's extensive international telecom experience and knowledge to build upon their leading positions in the Thailand telecommunications market.

Arve Johansen, CEO of Telenor Mobile Communications said: "The investment in TAC and UCOM is one of Telenor's most significant investments to date. This transaction is consistent with our continued international expansion strategy and our commitment to partnering with leading companies in high growth markets worldwide. The investment in TAC and UCOM and our position in DiGi.Com, a leading Malaysian mobile operator, gives us a solid presence in Asia, which we believe is a key growth market for our company."

Sigve Brekke, Telenor's Managing Director for Asia states: "We are extremely pleased to reach this agreement with TAC and UCOM. Telenor believes that Thailand represents one of the most attractive telecom growth markets in Asia, with TAC and UCOM as the two companies best positioned to capitalise on this growth potential."

Telenor Mobile Communications
Telenor Mobile Communications (TMC) is the mobile business area of Telenor, offering voice, data, Internet, e-commerce and content services. Telenor Mobile Communications is one of the world's most advanced mobile operators with a leading position in the Norwegian market and with ownership in 14 mobile companies throughout the world. The total number of subscribers as of March 31, 2000 was approximately 8.1 million in companies where Telenor Mobile Communications has ownership.

Telenor Mobile Communications portfolio as of March 31, 2000

Company	Markets	Ownership Interest	Subscribers* (000's)	Population (millions)
Telenor Mobil	Norway	100.0 %	2,06	04.mai
VIAG Interkom	Germany	10.0 %	1,3	81.4
Cosmote	Greece	22.0 %	1,237	10.apr
Pannon GSM	Hungary	25.8 %	754	10.mar
Esat Digifone	Ireland	49.5 %	640	03.jun
Connect Austria	Austria	17.5 %	620	8.0
DiGi.Com	Malaysia	30.0 %	617	19.mai
VimpelCom	Moscow, Russia	31.7 %	482	115.0
North-West GSM	St. Petersburg, Russia	12.7 %	143	8.0
Stavtelesot	Stavtelsot, Russia	49.0 %	7	02.mai
Extel	Kalingrad, Russia	49.0 %	5	1.0
Kyivstar	Ukraine	35.0 %	85	52.0
GrameenPhone	Bangledesh	51,00 %	75	117.8
Pro-Monte GSM	Montenegro	40.1 %	70	0.7
Total			3502,597

*Source EMC Database, not official figures from companies

Telenor AS
Telenor is a major European telecommunications company with investments and operations throughout the world. The company is Norway's leading telecommunications company offering a full range of mobile, Internet, fixed-line, satellite, media/directory and information technology services. In 1999, Telenor had a turnover of NOK 33.5 billion (US$ 4.3 billion) and net profit of NOK 2.0 billion (US$256 million).

Norway is one of the most advanced telecommunications countries worldwide with a mobile penetration rate of approximately 70 percent. As the market leader in Norway, Telenor's mobile operation had a market share of approximately 73 percent with 2,060,000 subscribers as of March 2000. Telenor has an equity interest in 15 mobile operators in 12 countries throughout the world.

Through its Nextra subsidiary, Telenor is one of Europe's leading Internet related service providers offering solutions to the international business community with operations in nine countries.

For additional information, please visit Telenor's website at www.telenor.com or Nextra's website at www.nextra.com

Total Access Communication PCL
TAC is the second largest mobile communications operator in Thailand with approximately 1,100,000 subscribers and an approximate 45% market share as of March 31, 2000. The Company had revenues of Baht 18.17 billion (approx. US$ 480.0 million) in 1999. TAC operates a nationwide GSM 1800 and AMPS 800 network.

For additional information, please visit TAC's website at www.tac.co.th
United Communication Industry PCL
UCOM is one of Thailand's leading telecommunications groups and was established in 1960 as the first private Telecom Company in Thailand. The company and its subsidiaries are active in all areas of telecommunications services.

For additional information, please visit UCOM's website at www.ucom.co.th