Matthias Kurth Connects with Cable Europe

Former German Telecom Regulator Brings Extraordinary Overview to Sector’s

Expanding Role in Increasingly Competitive European Market Space

(Brussels, 22 October) Cable Europe announces today the arrival of Matthias Kurth who is joining its team as Executive Chairman. Mr. Kurth will sit on Cable Europe’s Executive Committee which has oversight of the cable industry’s main representational duties in Europe. Matthias lastly held the position of President of the German Federal Network Agency, Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA), the authority for telecommunications, postal, energy and railway markets in Germany, including frequency management and digital signature. He played an instrumental role in the liberalization of the German energy market and left behind notable achievements with respect to competition in the telecommunications market. Matthias also served as Chairman of the European Regulators Group (ERG) in 2009 to increase regulatory cooperation at the EU level.

“It is a true testimony to the growing maturity of our organization that an executive of Matthias' caliber has agreed to join forces with us. His unique experience and high level insight will be invaluable for our growing sector,” comments Cable Europe President, Manuel Kohnstamm.

“Matthias brings extraordinary oversight of our sector given his experience in helping to drive Germany’s broadband take-up, running Europe’s first spectrum auctions for mobile broadband and serving as the Chair of the European Regulators Group at a time of crucial regulatory reform in European telecoms.”

Mr. Kurth worked as a judge and lawyer for 16 years prior to his roles of President of BNetzA and Chairman of the ERG. He served as State Secretary in the Hesse Ministry of Economics, Transport, Technology and European Affairs between 1994 and 1999. Mr. Kurth was member of the Hesse Land Parliament from 1978 to 1994 and also worked as a lawyer in Hesse.

“The substantial contribution of the cable industry for high speed broadband connections in Europe is an enormous success. I'm glad to join a sector, which has practically proven, that efficient private investment, better quality of service and fair prices for consumers can be achieved simultaneously," says Matthias Kurth. “It’s a great time to be on board given cable’s performance in connecting Europeans, its ongoing achievement in higher political goals laid out in the Digital Agenda and its consumer-driven business which is still growing in the current economic climate. Having learned a lot about how to encourage competition and help consumers across crucial European sectors, I look forward to giving Cable Europe a hand in its efforts within a continually evolving policy context.”

The timing of Matthias Kurth’s arrival comes at a point when Europe’s connectivity is topping political agendas with a new urgency. Future-proofing high performance and fibre-rich networks in Europe for the increasingly connected European consumer is our business. With, 27 million Broadband subscribers, 60 million TV subscribers, and 20 million Telephony subscribers all in Europe, the mission of continued innovation remains a necessity in today’s ever-competitive market.

Manuel Kohnstamm, who was recently appointed Chief Policy Officer for Liberty Global Inc. will continue his current supervisory mandate as President of Cable Europe together with Vice-President Manuel Cubero, Chief Operating Officer of Kabel Deutschland.

“Matthias knows a thing or two about networks and we’re delighted to count him as part of our very own European network of the best connectivity providers in the market,” comments Cable Europe Managing Director, Caroline van Weede. “His stewardship of a variety of high level political issues while at BNetzA will buttress our leadership here at Cable Europe where we continue to put our industry’s best foot forward on a daily basis.”

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For more information, please contact:

Gregg Svingen

Director of Communications

M: +32 476 490 603

E: gregg.svingen@cable-europe.eu

About Cable Europe

Cable Europe is a trade association that groups all leading broadband cable TV operators and their national associations throughout Europe. The aim of Cable Europe is to promote and defend the industry’s policies and business interests at European and international levels, and to foster cooperation among its members. The European cable TV industry services more than 94 million broadband, TV and telephony subscriptions throughout the EU 27 (around 70 million households).

www.cable-europe.eu