Thirdspace and ANT Limited Enter Strategic Partnership

New set top box middleware solution for broadband TV based on ANT's Fresco® browser

Maidenhead, UK, January 29, 2003

Thirdspace, the leading developer of broadband TV solutions, and ANT Limited, a leading provider of browser-based content rendering solutions for TV, DVD and other consumer electronic devices, today announced that they have entered into a strategic partnership to offer state-of-the-art client-based solutions to the broadband TV market.

Under the terms of this global agreement, the companies will jointly develop a full set top box (STB) middleware solution for broadband TV by integrating the ANT Fresco HTML browser with Thirdspace's Open Video Client (OVC™). The Thirdspace OVC will provide the functionality for broadband interactive TV applications, such as video-on-demand (VoD) and remote gaming. ANT Fresco will be deployed as the client-controlling user interface engine. Thirdspace will market the integrated solution to STB vendors, manufacturers and service providers.

The combined solution will be available at end of Q1, 2003, and will support Thirdspace Open Video Applications (OVA™) and Thirdspace Open Video Server (OVS™), along with other open-standards based Internet protocol (IP) TV application suites. ANT software architecture, applications, content tools, and a range of third party technology "plug-ins" - including fonts, security and multimedia applications - further complement the solution.

Simon Woodward, President and CEO of ANT Limited said, "We are tremendously excited to be working with Thirdspace. By pre-integrating ANT's browser into Thirdspace's OVC, broadband TV players will be able to realise significant improvements in the time-to-market, cost and performance of their offerings. The combination of both partners' proven and robust technology will support service providers in achieving strong revenue streams from their services. This relationship confirms ANT's commitment to the broadband TV market, and will enable us to strengthen our lead in this area."

Brian Keating, Chairman and CEO of Thirdspace, said, "After evaluating several browsers, we concluded that ANT's state-of-the-art Fresco HTML browser, based on a thin client model, offered the best standards-compliance and overall performance. This was crucial to us, as by adhering to a thin client model, set top box resources can be used for other purposes, such as low bit rate video decoding."

Keating added, "This announcement demonstrates Thirdspace's continual development of enhanced features and functionality in OVC. We are now able to offer the full STB middleware, as opposed to only one component of it."

About ANT Software Limited

ANT plc (www.antplc.com) is a leading provider of digital TV client and consumer electronic software solutions. ANT's unique client solutions allow robust and consistent delivery of digital-media, user interfaces, interactive services and applications to the TV and portable media devices. ANT enables service providers to efficiently create and deploy successful solutions to the market that deliver high value and clear differentiation.

ANT's products are pre-integrated with many industry-leading solutions and are based upon open standards, enabling low-risk, cost-effective roll-out of services, while ensuring flexible client hardware choice with efficient bill of materials. ANT software has been extensively deployed by customers throughout the world including Chunghwa Telecom, Foxconn, France Telecom, Humax, LG/Nortel, Philips, Sagem, Samsung, SaskTel, Telecom Italia and Thomson.

ANT plc's shares are listed on AIM, a London Stock Exchange regulated market, under the ticker ANTP (Reuters: ANTP.L, Bloomberg: ANTP.LN).

About Thirdspace

Thirdspace is the leading software developer and integrator of open standard video server systems, client middleware software and a comprehensive broadband TV applications framework solution. These interactive and on-demand TV software solutions enable DSL and other broadband network operators to offer a full range of broadband TV services over existing networks. Thirdspace shareholders include Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA), the world's leading provider of DSL infrastructure to world leading carriers; Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL), the world's largest enterprise software company; and Concurrent Computer Corporation (NASDAQ: CCUR), the pioneer and market leader in video on demand (VOD) commercial deployments in North America. For more information, please visit www.thirdspace.tv

Trademarks

ANT, the ANT logo, Galio, Fresco and PurePlay are all trademarks or registered trademarks of ANT Software Limited. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

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