September 9, 2009, Moscow, Tyumen. COMSTAR – United TeleSystems (JSC COMSTAR-UTS, LSE: CMST), the largest operator of integrated telecommunication services in Russia and the CIS, announces that Siberia affiliate of CJSC COMSTAR-Regions (100% subsidiary of OJSC COMSTAR-UTS) organized access to services of inter-urban and international (IU/INT) communication provided by COMSTAR-UTS for the inhabitants and business structures of Siberian million-populated city of Omsk.

Starting September 1, 2009, for all the subscribers of Omsk and Omsk Region stationary and mobile communication networks opened is an access to services of inter-urban and international communication provided by COMSTAR-UTS. While signing service provision agreement for inter-urban and international call services via distant communication network, COMSTAR-UTS on operator pre-select basis individual tariffs shall be offered. The individuals may also opt to use “hot-choice" technology, i.e. “pre-call choice”, using operator access codes (23 for inter-urban, and 28 for international communication).

To provide the services for the customers in Siberia Branch of CJSC COMSTAR-Regions, Omsk Center of Communication Services has been set up.

Viktor Koresh, OAO COMSTAR-UTS Vice-President for Regional Development and Director General of CJSC COMSTAR-Regions, said: “Approaching markets of cities with a population of over 1 000 000 is one of the major tasks of the Group of companies in the Russian regional telecom market. These are the places where a whole range of telecom services is getting more and more demanded. These large cities with over 1 000 000 of inhabitants see the highest penetration rate of broadband access, Pay-TV and long-distance and international communication services. Today, we are already present on the markets of Saint Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Saratov, Rostov-on-Don and Yekaterinburg.”

Vladimir Alaev, Director General of OAO RTC, Director of CJSC COMSTAR-Regions Siberian branch, pointed out: “We continue to implement our strategy of active penetration into Siberia Region. In May we entered Tobolsk market, while today we are confronted with a task to provide COMSTAR telecom services for one of the largest cities in the Region. Omsk is a city with a broad sales market for services of COMSTAR-UTS; it has high potential for dynamic development in the long-term perspective. Here it is possible to successfully implement our capabilities in provision of hi-tech and quality telecom services both for enterprises and inhabitants”. We are intended to strengthen the leader position of COMSTAR-UTS, taking a prominent place in telecom market of million-inhabited Omsk market, and, in perspective, to provide a complete range of telecom services: local, intra-zone, inter-urban and international telephone communication, Internet broadband access, creation of VPN's, leasing of communication channels, design and building of engineering networks and communications with Cable-TV as well.”

Omsk is a million-populated large industrial, cultural, research and educational center of Siberia. The city has dynamic economy, which is acknowledged by active construction of the housing stock and commercial real estate. Besides, the largest oil refinery in Russia (and third largest in Europe) is situated in Omsk (currently owned by OAO Gazpromneft). Omsk is a center of mechanical engineering, radio electronics, chemical and petrochemical industry in Siberia. The city has many higher educational establishments.