Exhibit 99.1
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press release                                                       UPC



                      UNITED PAN-EUROPE COMMUNICATIONS N.V.
              ANNOUNCES CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ADOPTION OF FINANCIAL
                 ACCOUNTING STANDARD 142 AND OPERATIONAL UPDATE


Amsterdam, The Netherlands- February 28, 2003: United Pan-Europe Communications
N.V. ("UPC" or the "Company") (EURONEXT Amsterdam: UPC), one of the leading
broadband communications companies in Europe, today announces that, as
previously highlighted and following the requirements of US accounting
standards, it has completed its impairment test on its business goodwill as at
January 1, 2002.

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards no. 142 Goodwill and Other
Intangible Assets ("SFAS 142") became effective January 1, 2002 and, as detailed
in UPC's 2002 quarterly filings, was adopted by UPC at that time. The outcome of
UPC's goodwill impairment test as at January 1, 2002 has resulted in a non-cash
charge to its statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2002 of
EUR 1.5 billion, to be recorded as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting
principle. The charge will be reflected in the Company's year-end 2002 results,
together with the additional goodwill impairment charge, occurring as a result
of the Company's annual impairment analysis to be carried out as at December 31,
2002, which will be filed before the end of March 2003. This information is not
currently available, however a significant additional impairment charge may
result on completion of this annual review. Further details of the impact of the
adoption of SFAS 142 have been set out in an update of the Dutch Prospectus
which is also available on Form 8K filed with the SEC, from the offices of UPC,
at Boeing Avenue 53, 1119 PE Schiphol-Rijk or from Fortis Bank in the
Netherlands, at Rokin 55, 1012 KK Amsterdam.

Operational Update

Furthermore, UPC announces that its wholly-owned indirect subsidiary, Cable
Network Zuid -oost Brabant Holding B.V. ("Cable Brabant"), agreed to sell all of
the material assets of Cable Brabant to First International Bank of Israel Ltd
("FiBI") resulting in the cancellation of its obligation to repay its loan from
FiBI. This previously announced transaction closed on February 24, 2003.

United Pan-Europe Communications N.V. is one of the leading broadband
communications and entertainment companies in Europe. Through its broadband
networks, UPC provides television, Internet access, telephony and programming
services. UPC's shares are traded on Euronext Amsterdam Exchange (UPC) and in
the United States on the Over The Counter Bulletin Board (UPCOY). UPC is
majority owned by UnitedGlobalCom, Inc. (NASDAQ: UCOMA).

NOTE: Except for historical information contained herein, this release contains
forward-looking statements, which involve certain risks, and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied
by these statements. These risks and uncertainties include our ability to
restructure our outstanding indebtedness on a satisfactory and timely basis, the
ramifications of any restructuring, the acceptance and continued use by
subscribers and potential subscribers of the Company's services, changes in the
technology and competition, our ability to achieve expected operational
efficiencies and economies of scale, our ability to generate expected revenue
and achieve assumed margins, as well as other factors detailed from time to time
in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
For further information please contact:

Claire Appleby                      UPC Corporate Communications
UPC Investor Relations Director     + 31 (0) 20 778 9447
+ 44 (0) 207 647 8233               Email: corpcomms@upccorp.com
Email: ir@upccorp.com               Citigate First Financial
                                    Martha van Dijk
                                    + 31 (0) 20 575 4010
                                    Citigate Dewe Rogerson
                                    Toby Moore
                                    + 44 (0) 20 7638 9571

Also, please visit www.upccorp.com for further information about UPC