Moscow, Russia – March 5, 2013– Rostelecom OJSC (the “Group”) (MICEX - RTS: RTKM, RTKMP; OTCQX: ROSYY), Russia’s national telecommunications operator, announces that the Group has launched a 3G+ network in Ulyanovsk Oblast, which will provide mobile internet data transfer speeds of up to 21 MB/s through its subsidiary “ZAO NSS”.

In Ulyanovsk Oblast, Rostelecom’s 3G network has been installed using HSPA+ technology which provides the potential to increase transmission speeds from 21 MB/s to 42MB/s. Once fully rolled out, Rostelecom subscribers will be able to make immediate use of innovative services such as mobile television, broadband internet and video and audio streaming. Rostelecom’s high mobile data transfer speeds greatly enhance users’ ability to browse the internet, use mobile maps and GPS, engage in social networking and exchange large data files.

Dmitry Proskura, Vice-President and Head of Rostelecom’s Volga macro-regional branch noted, “Ulyanovsk Oblast is the first area in the Volga Region to be provided with 3G access by Rostelecom, which is being delivered through its subsidiary “ZAO NSS”. Construction is currently nearing an end and the service will be operational in the coming months. In the coming months, additional 3G networks are expected to be launched in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Samara Oblast, Penza Oblast, Saratov Oblast, Orenburg Oblast and the Republic of Tatarstan. Our mobile subscribers’ user experience is about to reach a new level when using their smartphones and tablets thanks to the high mobile data transfer speeds offered by Rostelecom. Furthermore, the access we provide to a large number of additional internet services and software means that a great deal more data is flowing through our network.”

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 13.5 million subscribers. Rostelecom is constructing 3G mobile networks in 27 Russian regions with launches having already taken place in Irkutsk Oblast and Primorsky Krai. In total, the company is planning to establish 8,000 base stations. Ericsson and Huawei are providing technical equipment and solutions for the project.