AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands; May 12, 1997: EUnet International B.V. today announced a global alliance with Asia Internet Holding Co., Ltd. ("AIH"), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, to establish a direct connection between their respective networks for seamless Internet services throughout the Asian-Pacific and European regions. In addition, both companies agree to develop new products together, to resell each other's Internet services, and to establish joint strategies including the provision of VPN (Virtual Private Network) and RSVP services covering sites across both Europe and Asia-Pacific.

The alliance between EUnet International and AIH - operator of A-Bone, the highest speed Internet backbone in Asia-Pacific - responds to clear and urgent developments in the market. In view of the increasing demand from international customers to build Intranets spanning Europe and Asia-Pacific, EUnet International will offer European transit services to AIH, resulting in increased performance for both corporate Intranet users and regular Internet users.

Through their alliance, both companies will establish the world's largest seamless network connecting three regions: Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America. Customers will benefit from fast and reliable connectivity to the US through the Pacific backbone of IIJ (Internet Initiative Japan Inc., Tokyo, Japan, and major share holder of AIH), and through the Atlantic backbone of EUnet International.

According to Wim Vink, Managing Director, "This step represents a significant milestone in the globalisation of our service offering. The alliance brings together the strongest players in the European and Asian-Pacific regions and creates a new force in the Internet industry. Together with Asia Internet Holding, we can now offer the same high quality Internet services and network performance across the globe".

Mr Koichi Suzuki, President of AIH, believes that "This alliance will allow AIH's Asian customers to benefit from high quality Internet Services in Europe. This is a remarkable step forward in the globalisation of Internet Services, offered by the two leading players in their respective regions".

In addition, both companies will co-ordinate their sales and marketing activities. EUnet International will provide a full range of services to large European customers with operations in the Asian-Pacific region, while AIH will include Europe in its one-stop shopping service, focusing initially on Japanese companies with operations across Europe. Customers will benefit from being able to negotiate centrally, while receiving services locally.

As part of the agreement, AIH will implement EUnet International's popular mobile access service EUnetTraveller in the Asia-Pacific region, resulting in increased coverage for one the world's leading Internet roaming services.