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Montevideo, Uruguay and Miami, Fla., Monday October 29, 2001 - Emergia S.A., a provider of broadband infrastructure services that has developed the largest and most extensive high capacity fiber optic system in Latin America, announced today that it successfully conducted the first TV transmission tests, from country to country, between the United States and Latin America during September 19-21, using their fiber optic network. Since 1965, international TV content distribution companies have used satellite infrastructure for the transmission of their programming. However with the development of new fiber optic infrastructure such as Emergia's, a solid alternative for high-quality, country-to-country TV transmission is now available. During the month of September, Emergia, along with leading U.S.-based telecommunications service providers such as Williams Communications, tested the audio and video quality to demonstrate that transmission of TV content, via its fiber optic ring, not only delivers optimal quality, but also offers a significant reduction in costs for companies that provide this type of service. The tests consisted of the following:TV programming that was produced by a major US Cable Network was transmitted from the US to Telefe in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Through its Vyvx Broadband Media unit, Williams Communications, the leading distributor of live broadcast content within the United States, used its US fiber-optic network to transmit the broadcast signal to Miami. Another signal was transmitted via Emergia's fiber optic ring between Telefe-Canal 11 in Buenos Aires and a TV production company in Miami, Florida. The tests were conducted by transmitting normal programming, specific content and bi-directional signals over a period of three days. The bi-directional signals were conducted with different transmission speeds going from 4 Mbps to 20 Mbps. The quality and reliability of Emergia's fiber optic ring, as well as its point-to-point connectivity capacity, were key factors in obtaining the following successful results: Lack of transmission failuresAlmost null delay, 80% superior to satellite delay.Image reliability and securityElimination of signal problems and rain attenuation Williams Communications provided the connectivity for the test from Atlanta to Miami. Michael Schlesier, vice president of broadcast, cable and advertising services for Williams Communications' Vyvx Broadband Media unit said, "Being able to participate in this test that Emergia conducted, has a great significance for us because it broadens the possibility of distribution of content to and from Latin America, as well as access to the most important content distribution companies assuring the highest quality transmission." "We are very proud to be the first to conduct this type of test in Latin America, as well as demonstrate that the quality of our network can handle this type of transmission," said Rafael Arranz, Vice President of Marketing and Services Development for Emergia USA, Inc. "We want to respond in a global way to the demand for this type of service, not only in Latin America, but in other regions as well. We will help companies in the sector grow by implementing new services such as interactive television." Shortly, Emergia will conduct more tests. These will include transmission of content in Chile, Argentina and Spain.