Re Agreement

British Telecommunications PLC
30 November 2000

November 30, 2000

                     BTOPENWORLD AND UNITED NEWS & MEDIA


                            AGREE TO SELL LINEONE

BTopenworld and United News & Media today confirmed that they are to seek a
new owner for LineOne, their jointly owned portal and Internet service
provider (ISP).

LineOne has grown both in terms of subscribers and usage since its launch in
1997 and is one of the top five ISPs in the UK. It has more than 1.4 million
registered members and receives more than one million unique visitors per
month. LineOne enjoys one of the most favourable usage profiles in the
industry.

BTopenworld and United News & Media are proud of their joint venture's
achievements to date, however both owners are refocusing their businesses, and
LineOne no longer fits with either company's plans. They believe that
LineOne's continued growth and ambitious development intentions would be
better served under a new owner.

BTopenworld

BTopenworld is BT's new international mass market Internet business. It brings
together BT's existing UK and international Internet service providers (ISPs)
and portals, including BT's retail broadband DSL service and Genie, Europe's
leading mobile centric portal. BTopenworld is also responsible for BT's
interest in Open...(an interactive online shopping venture controlled by
BskyB).

BTopenworld today has 2.1 million equity ISP customers, making it one of the
largest Internet companies in Europe. Andy Green is chief executive of
BTopenworld and Ben Andradi is the chief operating officer.

BTopenworld joint venture businesses, investments and subsidiaries include:
Open; Excite UK; Yucom (Belgium); Arrakis (Spain); Infinito (Italy); Mantra
Online (India) and BT Looksmart.

                           -----------------------
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