Telekom Austria Group: Austrian subsidiary A1 presents the Internet of the Next Generation for the first time in Austria – Hybrid-Boost Technology

Vienna, 15 July 2016

• Smart combination of fixed net Internet and 4G/LTE with speeds of up to 100 Mbit/s
• Customers decide how much bandwidth they need, A1 provides appropriate technology

Nowadays it's impossible to imagine life in a household without the Internet, be it to stream films and TV series, to communicate via Messenger apps or simply to surf news sites and look up information. However, given Austria's formidable topography supplying broadband Internet to the entire country can present a challenge. A1 is investing some 500 million euros in 2016 alone to extend Internet coverage in urban and rural areas, upgrading both its fixed net Internet and 4G/LTE networks. With hybrid boost technology A1 is now combining both these technologies for the first time in Austria to create a new product.

"Demand for broadband is rising year after year: Austrian households already often use up to six connected devices. With hybrid boost we are now for the first time offering a smart combination of fixed net Internet and 4G/LTE in a single product to meet this demand. This puts A1 in a position to supply 92% of Austrians with fast, future-proof Internet," said Natascha Kantauer-Gansch, A1 Chief Customer Officer Consumer, stressing the advantages of the new offer.

Hybrid-Boost – Only from A1

At the heart of hybrid boost is the new A1 Hybrid Box, which combines a broadband WLAN modem and a 4G/LTE module. The box's smart technology makes it possible to combine the broadbands of both technologies. As a result, hybrid boost can deliver download speeds of up to 100 Mbit/s and upload speeds of up to 20 Mbit/s. What sounds complicated is in fact perfectly simple for A1 customers: Using an availability query on www.A1.net anyone in Austria can ask which Internet speeds are available for any particular address. The A1 Hybrid Power Option is already included in this calculation – leaving the customer to choose what Internet speed he would like, while A1 provides the appropriate technology combination.

"This smart combination of two technologies offers a number of advantages: with A1 fixed net Internet A1 customers enjoy fixed net, undivided bandwidth. When required, the Hybrid Box boosts performance with 4G/LTE, delivering speeds of up to 100 Mbit/s. This enables us to reach more Austrians than ever before with broadband Internet," said Armin Sumesgutner, A1 Director Service Network Planning.