VIA NET.WORKS today announced the appointment of Malcolm Bell to its board of directors. His appointment is effective from 22 May 2003.

Mr Bell brings to VIA over 25 years of senior level experience in audit, accounting and financial management. His work with boards of companies also includes a significant involvement with risk and governance matters. His career includes senior roles with Deloitte, Coopers & Lybrand and PricewaterhouseCoopers in the UK and mainland Europe.

He currently serves non-executive director functions with The Mission to Seafarers and The Three Counties Agricultural Society, where he chairs the Audit Committee. Mr. Bell is also a consultant with Telos Partners Ltd, a UK- based business consultancy firm. In addition to his role on the board, Mr. Bell will also serve as a member of VIA's audit committee.

"Malcolm Bell joins the VIA board at an important moment in the company's drive to profitability and success," said Mike McTighe, Chairman of VIA's board. "VIA is executing a strategic plan aimed at continuing to drive costs out of the business, improving operational performance and building profitable revenue growth. Malcolm's considerable experience in financial and change management and corporate governance further deepens the board's ability to steer the company towards the full achievement of its objectives."

About VIA NET.WORKS, Inc.

VIA NET.WORKS, Inc. (Nasdaq and EASE: VNWI) is a single-source provider of managed Internet services to small and medium-sized businesses in Europe and the United States. VIA local operations offer a comprehensive portfolio of flexible and reliable managed Internet services encompassing areas such as connectivity, hosting, security, messaging, and professional services. VIA is a facilities-based Internet services company, managing its own backbone network. This unique combination - the agility of a local, customer-focused company and the reliability of an international high-speed network - allows VIA to be highly responsive to specific customer needs and to deliver quality solutions. VIA is headquartered at H. Walaardt Sacrestraat 401-403,1117 BM Schiphol, The Netherlands. More information about VIA can be obtained by visiting our website at www.vianetworks.com.