1st August, 2005, London – BT Media and Broadcast, the digital media and broadcast services arm of BT, and RaceTech, supplier of technical services to the horse racing industry, have signed a new contract that will see BT deliver all of RaceTech’s broadcast requirements until 2010.

As part of the agreement, BT will utilise the latest Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) technology to provide a high quality transmission network from 31 racecourses throughout the UK.  The bespoke network will enable RaceTech to deliver live race meetings from as far a field as Ayr in Scotland and Bangor in Wales, with all the content switched and monitored from the International Media Centre, BT Tower, London.

Jon Short, broadcast account manager, BT Media and Broadcast commented, “Having established an excellent relationship with RaceTech over the past three years, the new five-year contract will allow the customer to enjoy the benefits of the MPLS broadcast network and enable them to take advantage of any future developments within this truly bespoke distribution solution.”

Brad Higgins, Chief Executive Officer, RaceTech, added, “As the development of outside broadcast distribution technology continues to gather momentum, our ongoing partnership with BT marks an important chapter in the history of RaceTech.  The MPLS broadcast network offers us increased business efficiencies while continuing to deliver high quality horse racing coverage.”

About BT
BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions serving customers in Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific.  Its principal activities include networked IT services, local, national and international telecommunications services, and higher-value broadband and internet products and services.

BT consists principally of three lines of business:

* BT Retail, providing a comprehensive range of communications and related services to more than 20m UK consumers and businesses.
* BT Wholesale, providing network services and solutions within the UK to more than 600 fixed and mobile operators and service providers including the provision of broadband and private circuits.
* BT Global Services, providing networked IT services to meet the needs of multi-site organisations globally.  BT Global Services operates in more than 130 countries and also offers international carrier services. In the year ended 31 March 2005, BT Group’s turnover was £18,623 million with profit before goodwill amortisation, exceptional items and taxation of £2,085 million.

BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York. British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group.
For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt

About BT Media and Broadcast
BT Media and Broadcast (BTM&B) is the digital media and broadcast services> arm of BT, which is responsible for the provision of fully managed broadcast services and the development of the commercial opportunities presented by digital content.  Its international customer base includes broadcasters and content and rights owners within the television, film and media industries, along with the corporate and government sectors.

BTM&B provides bespoke satellite and fibre-based solutions, using sophisticated digital content and data management technology, to transport and manage video, audio and data.  Delivering live broadcasts from major international events, providing digital terrestrial TV (DTTV) networks and direct to home (DTH) satellite platforms and storing and securely distributing video content to broadband devices are just some of the areas in which BTM&B excels.  An industry pioneer, BTM&B aims to deliver the highest quality of service, flexibility and efficiency through advanced technology and industry expertise.

BTM&B is part of BT Global Services. BT Global Services is BT’s business services division, which serves multi-site organisations with European operations.

For more information, please visit: www.bt.com/media-broadcast

For further information on this release, please contact:
Paul Borge Arthur Browne
Band & Brown Communications
T: +44 (0) 20 7419 6953 T: +44 (0) 20 7419 8625
E: paulb@bbpr.com E: arthur@bbpr.com

BT Group Newsroom
T: +44 (0) 20 7356 5369