Siemens to Extend GSM Networks for Russian Mobile Operator MTS - Business Volume Over USD 200 Million

Leading mobile operator in Central and Eastern Europe, Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) has awarded the Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group (Siemens mobile) to extend its GSM networks in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. In total, the business volume for these networks extensions by Siemens mobile will be over USD 200 Million in 2004. Under the terms of the agreement, Siemens mobile will expand and upgrade the switching subsystems in various regional MTS networks in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Furthermore, the company will extend the GSM radio networks with further base stations and the intelligent network platform with new services. Facing the continued growth in the subscriber base of MTS (5 percent growth in March 2004) the expansion of the networks will make it possible to meet the fast growing requirements of the more than 20 million MTS customers for voice and data services until end of 2004. 'The quality of our network is based on the high quality of Siemens, one of the most reliable world manufacturers of telecommunications equipment. The new agreements will develop our many years of partnership in the future,'explained MTS President and CEO Vassily Sidorov. 'The new contracts underline Siemens'leading role in the Russian mobile infrastructure market. We are very pleased to support MTS to substantially increase its possibilities and subscriber base in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine,'said Karl-Christoph Caselitz, President of Networks at Siemens mobile. 'Many years of our strategic partnership with this leading mobile operator in Russia, Central and Eastern Europe prove once again the reliability and the high quality of the equipment supplied by Siemens.'