Exhibit 99.1
NetSol Technologies, Inc. News Release
| Contacts: Marty Tullio Investor Relations 949.566.9860 [email protected] |
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NetSol Technologies: Najeeb U. Ghauri Chairman 818.222.9195 [email protected] |
Akhter Group, a United Kingdom Company, Acquires 49.9 Percent of NetSolConnect,
a Subsidiary of NetSol Technologies, Inc.
Acquisition to Bring Potentially $20 Million In Investment For
First Nationwide Broadband Infrastructure In Pakistan
Calabasas, CA August 8, 2003 NetSol Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTWKC), a developer of proprietary software applications, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with United Kingdom-based Akhter Group PLC. Under the terms of the agreement, Akhter Group acquired 49.9 percent of NetSol Technologies wholly owned subsidiary, Pakistan-based NetSolConnect (Pvt) Ltd., an Internet Services Provider in Pakistan. Akhter, one of the longest established computer companies in the UK, is well recognized as a provider of managed Internet services, integrated networks both local area networks and wide area networks as well as metropolitan area networks within the UK.
Akhter owns proprietary broadband technologies and solutions that will provide NetSolConnect a technologically strong platform for strengthening its telecommunications infrastructure within Pakistan with a goal of becoming a leading provider of broadband Internet access to both residential and commercial users, said NetSol CEO Naeem Ghauri. This untapped market presents a significant opportunity to NetSol and Akhter as Pakistans telecommunications infrastructure predominantly supports dial up access to the Internet.
The initial stage of the agreement provides NetSol with an investment of up to $1 million in cash to launch a broadband infrastructure in Karachi, the largest business hub in Pakistan. The initial infrastructure will provide a 155MB backbone and a 5MB broadband to customer premises using a proprietary broadband technology and an infrastructure consisting of 20 hubs. After the successful launch of the initial six-month beta program to Karachis residential and commercial customers, additional rollouts of the hubs are scheduled in Lahore and Islamabad within a 12-month period.
The second investment into the program could provide up to $20 million to create the first Terabit backbone in Pakistan. This will allow NetSol to provide data, voice, video and other multi-media services to major cities within Pakistan.
Akhter and NetSols partnership provides both companies with significant opportunities within Pakistan, commented Ghauri. Pakistans major cities must be supported with a fast, efficient and cost effective communications infrastructure to maintain the significant growth currently being experienced. Our investment and technical expertise can provide a broadband communications program that will be efficiently replicated throughout each major city within Pakistan.
After two decades in the technology industry, we have learned to invest our time and money in our customers, the continued growth of our company and our partnerships with well
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Akhter Group, a United Kingdom Company, Acquires 49.9 Percent of NetSolConnect,
a Subsidiary of NetSol Technologies, Inc.
Page 2-2-2
respected companies such as NetSol, said Akhter Computers Chairman and CEO Humayun Mughal. Our partnership with NetSol strengthens our collective footprint within Pakistan and gives us the opportunity to substantially improve our competitive position as we have the experience and the technologies to cost effectively provide a wide range of broadband Internet and data services to the populace. We look forward to expanding our services to provide the much needed voice, data, and multimedia broadband services all from a single provider.
About Akhter Group PLC
About NetSol Technologies, Inc.
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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