"Vimpelcom": Mobile Communication Of Reasonable Quality In Armenia

"VIMPELCOM": MOBILE COMMUNICATION OF REASONABLE QUALITY IN ARMENIA

ARKA
March 18, 2008

YEREVAN, March 18. /ARKA/. The mobile communication in Armenia is of
reasonable and good quality, "Vimpelcom" Director on CIS countries
Ilya Chulyukin said.

Russian "Vimpelcom" company (Bee Line trademark) owns 100% of the
shares of Armenian "ArmenTel" telecommunication company that holds
the monopoly on stationary communication in Armenia.

"We watch the quality of communication quite closely not only in
Armenia, but also in other networks in other countries. The matter is
that the service quality is a priority for "Vimpelcom" dealt with by
special departments that check the quality with special instruments,"
Chulyukin told journalists in Yerevan.

In the scope of modernization of mobile communication network in
Armenia switchboards have been replaced he said adding that the mobile
network will be renewed next year.

Chulyukin reported that the equipment is being replaced in motion,
the works are being carried out at nights, but interruptions occur
in the operation.

"The replacement itself is being done in stages and different producers
cannot be combines due to negative effects it may have on quality, that
is why we move from the remote areas to the center of the country,"
he said.

Chulyukin also said "Vimpelcom" attaches particular importance to
training of technical personnel.

"ArmenTel" closed joint stock company is a daughter company of Russian
"Vimpelcom" and offers stationary communication services to over
600,000 subscribers and mobile communication service to over 450,000
subscribers in Armenia.