Moscow, Russia – May 14, 2013– Rostelecom OJSC (MICEX - RTS: RTKM, RTKMP; OTCQX: ROSYY) (“the Company”), Russia’s national telecommunications operator, announces the launch of 3G+ networks in the Sverdlovsk, Kurgan and Chelyabinsk regions, in the south of the Tyumen region and in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area. This latest launch follows the recent introduction of 3G+ services in Perm Krai. Rostelecom subscribers will be able to use their smartphones and tablets to access internet services and experience faster data transfer speeds.

Rostelecom’s 3G+ network was installed using HSPA+ technology, providing data transfer speeds of up to 21MB/s, with the possibility of upgrading the network  to reach speeds of up to 42MB/s if demand requires. The 3G+ network is LTE-ready, so that only minor modifications will be required before the Company can roll out its 4G (LTE) network in the future. Thus, a modern, sustainable, efficient and multi-standard mobile phone network will be created, which will realise the advantages of all standards, resulting in high quality voice services and data transfer.

At the first stage of the network’s development in the Urals, 1,020 new generation base stations were installed in five Ural regions, while almost 400 were built in Perm Krai. 3G+ network services are therefore available in all major populated areas of the five Ural regions and in Perm Krai.  

Ilya Vasketsov, Commercial Director of Rostelecom-Ural commented: “Following the launch of the 3G+ network, new possibilities and mobile data transfer speeds have been made available to Rostelecom subscribers. An important characteristic of our 3G+ network is the high usage of modern optical lines that run to the base stations themselves, which has been made possible due to our strong fixed communications network in all the Ural regions.”

Rostelecom is constructing 3G mobile networks in 27 Russian regions. In total, the Company is planning to establish more than 8,000 base stations. Ericsson and Huawei are providing technical equipment and solutions for the project.

Rostelecom and its subsidiaries, NCC CJSC, BWC CJSC, ETK CJSC, Sky Link CJSC, Volgograd-GSM CJSC, AKOS CJSC and Wireless Information Technologies LLC, provide mobile services in 59 Russian regions to over 13.6 million subscribers.