Mobile Content Russia

Mobile TeleSystems, the largest mobile network operator in Russia and the CIS, announced the commercial launch of its 3G network in Saint Petersburg and technical readiness of 3G networks for commercial launch in Sochi, Yekaterinburg and Kazan.

Last week, marketing analysis firm Millward Brown released its third annual Brandz 100 ranking. MTS, Russia's top mobile phone operator, was ranked 89th, making it the first and only Russian brand to appear in the top 100. The rankings are compiled by comparing a company's earnings, based on its country of origin and market position, with the earnings that come from the company's most loyal customers, which can be attributed to the brand itself.

MTS (Mobile TeleSystems), the largest mobile phone operator in Russia and the CIS, announces that its consolidated subscriber base reached 84.94 million users on March 31, 2008. During March 2008, MTS' consolidated subscriber base increased by 1.06 million subscribers.

MTS (Mobile TeleSystems OJSC («MTS» - NYSE: MBT)), the largest mobile operator in Russia and CIS, announced its consolidated US GAAP financial results for the three months (unaudited) and full year ended December 31, 2007.

Key Financial Highlights of FY 2007

- Consolidated revenues up 29% y-o-y to $8,252 million
- Consolidated OIBDA up 31% to $4,223 million y-o-y with 51.2% OIBDA margin
- Consolidated net income up 93% year on year to $2,072 million
- Free cash-flow generation of $964 million

Russian analytic firm ComNews Research published its' report about Russian mobile VAS market in 2007. Data from ComNews showed that the market reached $2.8 bln. Mobile VAS contributed 13,5% of overall cellular market revenue in Russia. During 2007 mobile internet almost caught up with content services sector and did exceeded the latter in 3Q07 demonstrating the fastest growth rate. During 2007 mobile internet users base increased 25% to 20,5 mln. users.

Idle screen pioneer Celltick has won a contract worth over $5.7m with MTS Ukraine.
The agreement will bring �interactive cell broadcasting' to MTS's 19.8 million subs with the aim of driving take up of value added services such as information and entertainment. It's another boost for Celltick's LiveScreen Media product, now deployed by over 25 operators globally. The platform broadcasts targeted marketing messages across the idle screen of mobile phones. It has a reach capacity of 200 million users, generating over 35 million monthly transactions.

The Russia mobile subscriber base has grown by 0.95% up to 166 mln 410 thousand (number of SIM cards) in February 2008 as compared to January 2008. The given data is provided by a monthly analytical account Advanced Communications & Media (AC&M), RBC reports. The mobile penetration level reached 114.6% as of February 29th 2008.

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC («MTS» – NYSE: MBT), the largest mobile phone operator in Russia and the CIS, announces that its consolidated subscriber base reached 83.88 million users on February 29, 2008. During February 2008, MTS' consolidated subscriber base increased by 0.93 million subscribers.

Russia's two biggest mobile operators will struggle to maintain their impressive growth unless they squeeze more out of customers at home and successfully exploit foreign markets, experts say. U.S.-listed Mobile TeleSystems, or MTS, and VimpelCom have captivated foreign investors, with annual revenue growth of more than 25% for the past five years, as Russia's increasingly affluent population embraces cellular services.

Russia's largest mobile phone operator, Mobile TeleSystems (MTS), expects 2007 revenues of more than $8 billion, compared with $6.38 billion in 2006, its Chief Executive Officer said on Friday. "In terms of revenues, MTS exceeded $8 billion, which is a major achievement," Leonid Melamed told reporters. (Reporting by Andrei Makhovsky; Writing by Maria Kiselyova)