HKNet Teams Up With Verio, An NTT Communications Group Company, To Offer SmartHost, The World-class Web Hosting Service.

Business/Technology Editors

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. and HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 14, 2001

Powerful Synergy Created in Offering of Enhanced Internet Services

HKNet Co. Ltd. today joined forces with Verio Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of NTT Communications (NTT Com), to launch a premium world-class Web-hosting service that delivers a wide range of information-technology offerings to the regional telecommunications market in Hong Kong.

The service, called SmartHost, will be powered by Verio, the world's largest Web-hosting company. The Web-hosting program combines Verio's world-leading technology with HKNet's proven track record and regional IT expertise, creating a powerful synergy. An online control panel will be included in the program to provide an easy-to-use DIY (Do-It-Yourself) file management interface to execute the hosting services.

This new offering complements HKNet's e-Business Services, a full range of customized e-commerce services and management services and products, including Web-hosting, facilities management, high-speed local and international bandwidth, virtual private network (VPN) services and payment gateways to server co-locations.

"Our synergy with Verio and NTT Com definitely strengthens our portfolio of premium e-Business Services and reinforces our commitment to provide high-quality, flexible and reliable Internet services," said Mr. York Mok, deputy managing director of HKNet. "With NTT Com and Verio's well-recognized brand in Internet access and hosting services, we are in an excellent position to meet the increasing demand of our customers for enhanced Internet services and products."

"This enhanced alignment creates one of the strongest telecommunications entities worldwide, with the ability to provide a one-stop shop for world-class Internet protocol services and Web-based business solutions," said Dr Shuji Tomita, executive vice president and general manager of the Global IP Business Division of NTT Com. "This echoes NTT Com's continuous effort to combine proven infrastructure and extend coverage in all major metropolitans. HKNet, our flagship in Hong Kong, will help realize our corporate mission."

With SmartHost, customers can choose a plan according to their usage patterns. The control panel will monitor and manage their Web sites. Its functions include: account administration for Web statistics; value-added services such as search engine, e-mail-setting, guest book, and message board, data-management tools and security-access control.

In addition to providing a full range of online Web hosting support, HKNet will provide Tier 1 and Tier 2 customer support to guarantee around-the-clock technical support from IT professionals to help customers keep track of their eBusiness anytime, anywhere in the world.

About HKNet Co. Ltd.

Established in 1994, HKNet Co. Ltd. (HKNet) is one of the first licensed Internet Service Providers (ISP) in Hong Kong. With the determination to become the core IP hub in the Asia Pacific, a gateway to the Greater China market, as well as the most reliable and efficient Internet service provider in the region, HKNet offers a wide range of services including 56K dial-up services, Broadband services, Leased Lines, Facility Management/Internet Data Centre, Web Hosting/Data Base Hosting, Web Design/System Integration, e-Business Services, e-Commerce solutions, IP Transit, Virtual ISP, 1618IDD services, and Domain Name Registration.

HKNet is a joint venture company between NTT Communications of Japan and CCT Telecom Holdings. For more information, please visit HKNet's website at http://www.hknet.com or email [e-mail].

About NTT Communications Corporation

NTT Communications Corporation (NTT Com), a Tokyo-based subsidiary of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, provides long distance and international telecommunications reaching over 200 countries worldwide. In conjunction with Verio Inc., a US based subsidiary wholly owned by NTT Com, the NTT Com group ranks among the top IP service providers globally. The group provides customers of all sizes in the U.S., Japan, and throughout Asia with a complete range of Internet-based business services - from high-quality IP network services including global connectivity, network management and IP-VPN, to advanced Web-based business solutions.

NTT Com's Arcstar global services operating in about 50 countries also provide managed data, multimedia, and Internet services to some of the largest companies in the world.

For more information about NTT Com, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.ntt.com/index-e.html.

About Verio Inc.

Verio Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of NTT Communications (NTT Com), which provides long distance and international telecommunications reaching over 200 countries worldwide. Verio is the world's largest operator of Web sites for businesses and a leading provider of comprehensive Internet services. The company offers customers a broad range of Internet solutions, including Web hosting, e-commerce, virtual private networks and managed service offerings, among other enhanced services. Verio supports its operations with highly reliable and scalable global infrastructure and systems including a Tier One network, and provides Web hosting services to customers in more than 170 countries. The combination of Verio and NTT Com offers services to meet the growing and diverse needs of all businesses, including small to medium enterprises, large global enterprises, multi-national corporations, and Web-centric firms. More information can be found at www.verio.com and www.ntt.com/index-e.html.