8 August 2008, Moscow. COMSTAR – United TeleSystems (COMSTAR-UTS OJSC, LSE: CMST), a major operator of integrated telecommunications services in Russia and the CIS, announces that it has finished construction of wireless broadband access network in the city of Tyumen.

On July 16, 2008, COMSTAR-UTS obtained permission from the Federal Service on Supervision in the sphere of Mass Communications, Connection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage to run the telecommunications equipment of wireless broadband access network in Tyumen. Two base stations BreezeACCESS VL were installed in the city covering nearly the whole its territory. Base stations operate in frequency band 5 GHz.

Wireless broadband access network was built on the base of “Fixed WiMAX” technology. It is designed for provision of telephone communications services, broadband Internet access (BBA) and data transmission. The network is connected to switches for transmission of data and voice information. 

In addition to that COMSTAR-UTS has put into operation telephone communications node (capacity 500 numbers) and access node to data transmission network and telematic services (capacity 500 ports) for provision of local telephone communications services and Internet access.

COMSTAR-UTS intend to start independent provision of telecommunications services in Tyumen within next two months. At the moment OJSC Tyumenneftegazsvyaz (TNGS), subsidiary of COMSTAR-UTS operates under COMSTAR brand in Tyumen region. It provides complex telecommunications services to corporate and residential clients as COMSTAR-UTS agent. Furthermore, Nizhnevartovsk branch OJSC Regional Technical Center (RTC) – alternative telecommunications operator, also a member of COMSTAR-UTS group of companies, actively operates in the territory of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area.

«Tyumen branch will be established on the base of our assets in Ural Federal District after completion of structural reorganization of group of companies COMSTAR-UTS in accordance with the approved strategy. This branch will have several competitive advantages, - commented Victor Koresh, Vice-president for regional development, JSC COMSTAR-United TeleSystems. – As a result of such synergy a united universal telecoms operator will appear in Ural Federal District with extensive geographical presence, powerful technical infrastructure, large subscriber base and common standards for services provisioning. It is obvious that this fact will give a fresh impetus to the development of our business activities in one of the most perspective regions of the Russian Federation». 

«Today we offer to physical persons and legal entities the wide range of modern telecommunications services based both on wire-line and wireless technologies, and our clients can choose the most convenient and comfortable way of connection of the required services, - added Vladimir Alaev, general Director of TNGS and RTC Companies. – In the nearest future we intent to enter telecommunication market of Surgut with wireless broadband access services. And as a result, group of companies COPMSTAR-UTS will significantly strengthen its position as the leading alternative operator of the region ».