31 August 2009, Moscow, Rostov-on-Don. COMSTAR – United TeleSystems (JSC COMSTAR-UTS, LSE: CMST), the leading supplier of integrated telecommunication solutions in Russia and the CIS announced that Southern branch of OJSC COMSTAR-UTS launched commercial operation of cable TV network in Sochi.

The existing network capacity in Sochi is over 3 000 subscribers providing services on a commercial basis.

Earlier, in Q1 2009, COMSTAR-UTS affiliate – ZAO Digital Telephone Networks – South (August 2009 merger with CJSC COMSTAR-Regions, 100% affiliate of OJSC COMSTAR-UTS) launched provision of cable TV services in Krasnodar. Besides, cable TV services in Krasnodar are provided by a branch of ZAO STREAM-TV which was also became a part of CJSC COMSTAR-Regions in August 2009. Thus, a total Pay-TV subscriber base in Krasnodar currently counts more than 13 000 households.

In Sochi, provision of services for the subscribers has just started. Before the end of this year, the company plans to significantly increase the number of involved households in Krasnodar with a perspective to bring as many as 2 000 more of the households in Sochi.

“In Sochi, besides service provision for households, we will offer cable television services to health resorts, hotels and holiday houses located in the public resort area. In Krasnodar, there are enough households not yet enjoying cable TV service. So, the company plans for networking and subscription of new users are quite realistic”, said Vladimir Mamai, Director of OJSC COMSTAR-UTS – Southern branch.

In both cities, subscribers may use a basic package comprising 50 satellite channels. A cost of the package is 150 roubles per month. “Krasnodar and Sochi cable TV packages encapsulate the most popular satellite channels. Packages in both cities are made identical; further on, we plan to add new channels”, Mikhail Monastyrsky, Director of the Southern branch of CJSC COMSTAR-Regions” pointed out.