OREANDA-NEWS. Rostelecom OJSC (the “Group”) (MICEX - RTS: RTKM, RTKMP; OTCQX: ROSYY), Russia’s national telecommunications operator, announces that the Group has launched 3G+ networks in Perm and Perm Krai. Rostelecom subscribers will be able to use their smartphones and tablets to access internet services, experiencing considerable new data transfer speeds.

‘Rostelecom is in the process of realising its 3G network construction programme. By the end of Q1 2013, networks will have been launched in 10 regions across Russia,’ noted Pavel Zaitsev, Senior Vice-President of Rostelecom. ‘The launch of this 3G+ network has great significance for the whole of the Perm region and Rostelecom, as the Company is traditionally one of the principal mobile operators in the region, serving around 45% of subscribers. Now our clients in Prikamye will be able to make full use of quality voice calls, in addition to high speed mobile internet access and a wide variety of useful internet services on their smartphones, tablets, lap-tops and home computers.’

Almost 400 new generation base stations have been installed in Perm Krai as a first stage of the redevelopment. At the moment, the 3G+ network covers the towns of Perm, Berezniki, Solikamsk, Chaykovsky, Kungur, Lysva, Chusovoy, Krasnokamsk and other communities across the region, supplying more than 80% of the Perm Krai population.

Rostelecom’s 3G+ network was installed using HSPA+ technology, providing data transfer speeds of up to 21 MB/s (whereas the first 3G networks in Russia had speeds of 3.6 MB/s).

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.