OREANDA-NEWS. BT, one of the world's leading providers of communication solutions and services to large organizations, and Golden Telecom, a leading provider of integrated telecommunications and Internet services in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), signed a partnership agreement under which BT will have access to Golden Telecom's backbone network. This arrangement will enable BT to significantly extend the scope and reach of its advanced communications services in Russia and worldwide.

Accordingly, Golden Telecom's customers will obtain access to global BT's 21 Century Network, one of the most extensive and resilient IP networks in the world, thus getting access to global Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) services. "This agreement is a great example of beneficial cooperation between our two companies. By using Golden Telecom's extensive backbone network we can extend services to our clients across all of Russia, enabling them to develop their businesses in the region," said Richard van Wageningen, CEO of BT Russia and CIS. The contract with Golden Telecom will enhance BT's capabilities in Russia, ensuring network reliability and providing customers with a network with truly global outreach. This is a new milestone in BT's strategy in Russia focused on the increased cooperation with local operators.

What is BT?
BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include networked IT services; local, national and international telecommunications services; higher-value broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale. In the year ended March 31, 2007, BT Group plc's revenue was BP20,223 million with profit before taxation of BP 2,484 million. British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.