Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (“MTS” - NYSE: MBT), the largest mobile phone operator in Russia and Ukraine, announces that its consolidated subscriber base reached 19.19 million users on March 31, 2004.
During March 2004, MTS’ consolidated subscriber base on a net basis increased by
944 thousand subscribers, of which 745 thousand were added in Russia.
Commenting on the results, MTS’ First Vice-President, Mikhail Susov, said: “March was very successful in terms of the growth dynamics of MTS’ subscriber base. Our new advertising campaign, People Talk, was positively received in Russia. We increased our market share in Ukraine, aided by the launch of our Super JEANS tariff offer on this market. In addition, we re-branded our subsidiary, Uraltel, which is now operating under the MTS brand name. This move should help strengthen MTS’ position in the Ural region of Russia.”
|
|
Mar. 31, 2004 |
Feb. 29, 2004 |
Growth |
Mar. 31, 2003 |
Growth |
Subs |
% |
Subs |
% |
|
Total consolidated subscribers,
end of period (mln) |
19.19 |
18.25 |
0.94 |
5.2% |
9.42 |
9.78 |
103.8% |
|
Russia (mln) |
15.35 |
14.60 |
0.75 |
5.1% |
7.60 |
7.74 |
101.9% |
|
Moscow and the Moscow
region (mln) |
5.39 |
5.20 |
0.19 |
3.6% |
3.54 |
1.85 |
52.2% |
|
St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region (mln) |
1.29 |
1.23 |
0.05 |
4.2% |
0.97 |
0.32 |
32.6% |
|
Rest of Russia (mln) |
8.67 |
8.17 |
0.50 |
6.1% |
3.09 |
5.58 |
180.4% |
|
Ukraine (mln) |
3.85 |
3.65 |
0.20 |
5.4% |
1.82 |
2.03 |
112.1% |
|
Unconsolidated subsidiaries in Russia[1](thousand) |
163.3 |
143.1 |
20.2 |
14.1% |
- |
- |
- |
|
MTS Belarus[2](thousand) |
592.6 |
549.4 |
43.2 |
7.9% |
83.2 |
509.4 |
612.2% |
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For further information contact:
Mobile TeleSystems, Moscow tel: +7 095 911 6553
Andrey Braginski, Investor and Public Relations e-mail: ir@mts.ru
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Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (“MTS”) is the largest mobile phone operator in Russia and Ukraine. Together with its subsidiaries, the company services over 19.2 million subscribers. The regions of Russia, as well as Belarus and Ukraine, in which MTS and its subsidiaries are licensed to provide GSM services, have a total population of approximately 200.6 million. Since June 2000, MTS’ Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange with the ticker symbol MBT. Additional information about MTS can be found on MTS’ website at www.mtsgsm.com.
***
Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of MTS, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward looking statements by terms such as “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “will,” “could,” “may” or “might” the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not intend to update these statements to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. We refer you to the documents MTS files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically, the Company’s most recent Form 20-F. These documents contain and identify important factors, including those contained in the section captioned "Risk Factors," that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, our competitive environment, dependence on new service development and tariff structures; rapid technological and market change, acquisition strategy, risks associated with telecommunications infrastructure, risks associated with operating in Russia, volatility of stock price, financial risk management, and future growth subject to risks.
[1]MTS owns 50% stakes in Primtelefon, a local mobile operator in the Far Eastern and Siberian regions of Russia, and in Volgograd Mobile and Astrakhan Mobile, local mobile operators in the Volga part of Russia. MTS does not consolidate these companies.
[2]MTS owns a 49% stake in Mobile TeleSystems LLC, a mobile operator in Belarus, which is not consolidated.
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