January 30, 2008, Moscow: Today COMSTAR – United TeleSystems (COMSTAR-UTS, LSE: CMST), the leading supplier of integrated telecommunication solutions in Russia and the CIS, announced that Tyumenneftegazsvyaz JSC (TNGS), the leading competitive operator in the Tyumen Region, a member of COMSTAR-UTS Group, has completed the first phase of the microwave backbone (MB) construction in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug (KMAO). The backbone is expected to go across the KMAO and the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (YNAO).

The operator’s high-speed digital MB is intended for zone communications, data transmission and leased-line services. 24 of 34 MB hops have been already built and are in pilot operation; their overall length is more than 600 km for the Uray–Mezhdurechensky and Nyagan–Surgut directions. 8 more hops are currently under construction for the Surgut–Nizhnevartovsk–Raduzhny–Kogalym direction. In the near future the construction of 2 MB hops will start in YNAO for the Noyabrsk–Vyngopur direction. TNGS' microwave backbone is based on the NEC equipment.

The Tyumen Region MB is expected to be completed and commercially launched in 2Q08. The COMSTAR-UTS’ backbone of more than 1,300 km will join the main cities of KMAO: Surgut, Nefteyugansk, Nizhnevartovsk, Khanty-Mansiysk, and communities in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

Viktor Koresh, Vice President for Regional Development of COMSTAR-UTS, says, "The launch of the digital microwave backbone in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug will strengthen our position in the Tyumen Region telecom market. Not only will the launch extend considerably COMSTAR-UTS potential in zone communication services (launched in August 2007) in Tyumen, but also reduce costs and ensure increase in revenue from traffic backhaul through both the company’s and other operators’ networks."