December 16, 2008, Moscow, Tyumen: COMSTAR – United TeleSystems (COMSTAR-UTS JSC, LSE: CMST), the leading supplier of integrated telecommunication solutions in Russia and the CIS, announces that Tyumenneftegazsvyaz (TNGS), one of the leading operators in the Ural Federal District, a member of COMSTAR-UTS, has completed its fiber-optic network in the historical center of Noyabrsk, Zheleznodorozhnikov settlement.

TNGS intends to completely meet the need of the settlement population for digital telephony (about 500 numbers will be allocated) and high-speed Internet. Subscriber connection is scheduled to start in early 2009. The company will provide a range of services to both individual and enterprise users. At the first stage, TNGS will serve 12 houses (over 1200 apartments) as well as social entities: school, kindergarten, shopping mall, domestic service centre, police office.

Vladimir Alaev, Director General of Tyumenneftegazsvyaz, says, “Our company is introducing and applying new communication technologies by implementing aggressive penetration strategy for local Ural markets. Before TNGS has come in Noyabrsk, there was only departmental communication network here. So, the problem of infocommunications availability is quite urgent so far. I’m sure that COMSTAR brand, which we represent, will deserve recognition by Yamal users soon. Indeed, by providing high-quality advanced communication, COMSTAR-UTS contributes to creation of foundation for successful development of the Yamalo-Nenets region.”

Alexey Fedorov, Director of TNGS Yamalo-Nenets branch, comments the COMSTAR-UTS’ approach of Noyabrsk market, “Thanks to efforts made by local authorities to create and multiply factors ensuring a good environment for investors and employers, the city is developing quickly. Over a thousand of enterprises with various profiles and patterns of ownership have been registered and operate in the city. Apart from the leading companies engaged in oil and gas recovery and transportation, the city has developed trade and construction industries. New housing projects and infrastructure funds are launched every year. Thus, the potential consumer market for communication services is constantly growing.”

Today, about 115,000 people live in Noyabrsk, i.e. 20% of the total Yamal population. In the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, Noyabrsk has been considered as business, politics and cultural center of district subordination for a long time. And the Noyabrsk region has been the base territory for hydrocarbon material production for the two city-critical enterprises, i.e. Gazpromneft – Noyabrskneftegaz (part of Gazpromneft) and Gazprom Dobycha Noyabrsk (part of Gazprom).