TORONTO, July 6 /CNW/ - ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS INC. (''RCI'') (Toronto: RCI.A and RCI.B; NYSE: RG) and ROGERS CANTEL MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS INC. (''Rogers Cantel'') (Toronto: RCM.B; NYSE: RCN) today announced preliminary subscriber results for the second quarter ended June 30, 1999.

Rogers Cantel

Rogers Cantel added 109,500 net cellular subscribers, over four times the 24,900 subscribers added in the prior year's second quarter. The average monthly disconnect or ''churn'' rate was 1.54%, versus 1.87% in the second quarter of 1998. Rogers Cantel also added 10,800 net paging and data subscribers, 11,800 more subscribers than the prior year's second quarter. At June 30, 1999, Rogers Cantel had a total of 2,180,200 wireless subscribers (cellular and paging), an increase of 120,300 since March 31, 1999.

Commenting on the Company's subscriber results, Charles E. Hoffman, Rogers Cantel's President and CEO said, ''We are delighted with these results that represent our highest achievement in a second quarter ever and in fact surpass our prior years very strong fourth quarter. We believe these results reflect overall growth in the Canadian wireless market and and we are pleased with Rogers Cantel's performance in that market place. I am particularly encouraged by the reduction in our churn rate that underscores the steps we have taken to simplify our business and improve customer satisfaction.''

In the second quarter, 81% of the gross subscribers added and 67% of the net subscribers added were on post-paid plans. At the end of the quarter, approximately 690,000 subscribers were on Digital PCS, representing approximately 36% of Rogers Cantel's total cellular subscriber base and 181,400 subscribers were on the prepaid cellular service, ''Pay As You Go''.

Rogers Cablesystems

At June 30, 1999, Rogers Cablesystems had approximately 1,201,000 customers subscribing to the third tier, (MeTV) for a penetration rate of 54.0%. Cablesystems ended the seasonally low second quarter with 2,225,200 basic cable subscribers, a decline of 11,400 subscribers or 0.5% in the quarter, similar to the decline in the 1998 second quarter of 11,600 subscribers.

During the second quarter, Cablesystems added 24,500 Rogers@Home customers, ending the quarter with 100,500 customers. At June 30, 1999, Cablesystems was able to market its high-speed Internet access service to approximately 2.5 million homes, or approximately 89% of Cablesystems' 2.8 million homes passed.

Commenting on these results, John H. Tory, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rogers Cablesystems stated, ''Reaching 100,000 Rogers@Home customers is an important achievement and puts us solidly on track to achieve our full year subscriber targets. At sign up rates of almost 2,000 per week, customers are clearly choosing cable over telephone lines as the preferred method of accessing the Internet. The numbers indicate the value customers place on fast transmission speeds, 'always on' service and Rogers@Home content.''

''In addition, we are encouraged by the response to our VIP Cable program that offers tremendous value to our customers. With 167,000 customers since our launch last October, we plan to continue actively marketing this program that is being so well received by our customers.''

Rogers Communications Inc. is Canada's national communications company engaged in cellular, Digital PCS, paging and data communications through its 81% owned subsidiary Rogers Cantel Mobile Communications Inc., in cable television, high-speed Internet access, and video retailing through its wholly-owned subsidiary Rogers Cablesystems Limited, and in radio and television broadcasting, publishing and new media businesses through its wholly-owned subsidiary Rogers Media Inc.

For further information: Richard J. Harvey, Director, Investor Relations, Rogers Communications Inc., Phone: (416) 935-3552, Fax: (416) 935-3597; Archived images on this organization are available through CNW E-Pix at www.newswire.ca. Images are free to members of The Canadian Press.