March 11, 2009, Moscow, Saratov. COMSTAR – United TeleSystems (COMSTAR – UTS, LSE: CMST), the leading supplier of integrated telecommunication solutions in Russia and the CIS, announced that, CJSC KASKAD-TV, leading supplier of pay-TV services in Saratov region (member of STREAM-TV Group, owned by COMSTAR-UTS), has opened a new sales and customer services center on the base of the existing customer service office of COMSTAR-UTS Saratov branch in the city of Engels.  

The new sales and customer service center of STREAM, combined with COMSTAR-UTS office, is located in the briskest district of Engels. Now the full range of telecommunication services provided by the Group of companies COMSTAR-UTS in Saratov region is available for the inhabitants of the city within the framework of one office inclusive of such services as local, intrazonal, DLD and ILD telephone communications, broadband Internet access and multi-channel cable TV. In addition to that the all comers can choose the optimal for them bundled services: «Internet + TV» provided by STREAM or «Telephone + Internet» provided by COMSTAR-UTS. In the future, it is planned to introduce in the market new bundled services such as Triple Play – provision of integrated telephony services, high-speed Internet access and pay-TV services on the base of modernized network.

«Territorial and organizational unification of STREAM-TV and COMSTAR-UTS customer service centers is the first goal-oriented event related to integration of two brands, establishment of effective system in terms of sale of services for all the clients of the companies, which are the members of COMSTAR-UTS», - commented Dmitry Bagdasaryan, Director for marketing of CJSC STREAM-TV. – It is expected that such unified sales and customer services offices will be created in all the regions where COMSTAR and STREAM-TV facilities concurrently perform their business activities. Such synergy will make it possible to optimize companies’ efforts in terms of services promotion and to implement unified quality standards relating to service provisioning». 

«Opening of new, more comfortable in terms of its location and clients throughput customer service center of STREAM, oriented on the increase in availability of our services for inhabitants of the city and improvement of customer service to our Engels clientele, - commented July Potsipko, Director for marketing of CJSC KASKAD-TV». – The space of the new premise makes it possible to increase the number of company’s specialists who work with subscribers and to reduce client’s queuing time».

«In April 2008, we started provision of telecommunication services to individuals and legal entities in Engels, right after completion of building of modern multi-service data transmission network. Using company’s own trunk channels, we integrated networks of the two cities in a unified NGN-infrastructure and provide connection of our Engels clientele at the same quality level as it is in the city of Saratov, - said Andrey Klyukin, Commercial director of COMSTAR-UTS JSC’s Saratov branch». – Last summer we opened our sales office in Engels. Performing our business activities, first of all we focus on district of high-rise and mid-rise housing. The inhabitants of the city have high demand for broadband Internet access. As of today about three-forth of subscribers of telephone communication services, provided by COMSTAR-UTS in the city of Engels, are at the same time users of ADSL-access to Global Internet».

Engels is the «satellite» of Saratov, second-largest administrative center of the region. Its population is more than 230 ths. people and it has a well-developed industry and manufacturing. The fact that COMSTAR-UTS enter Russian cities with population of more than 200 ths. people is considered in the strategy of regional development of the Group of Companies.