VimpelCom Launches Commercial Operations Under the Beeline Brand in Vietnam
20 Jul 2009
Hanoi, Vietnam and Moscow, Russia (July 20, 2009) - Open Joint Stock Company “Vimpel Communications” (“VimpelCom” or the "Company") (NYSE: VIP), a leading international provider of telecommunications services, officially announced the commercial launch of its mobile operations in Vietnam under the Beeline brand via GTEL-Mobile Joint Stock Company, mobile telecommunications joint venture in Vietnam.
"With the start of our operations in Vietnam we are strengthening our positions in South-East Asia. The Vietnamese telecom market has a great potential with a young and dynamic population of more than 86 million people and a fast-growing economy. Our partnership with such a reliable and professional local partner as GTEL Corp helped us achieve the result we had planned",- said Boris Nemsic, Chief Executive Officer, VimpelCom Group."The launch in Vietnam follows our successful start in Cambodia where we have already commenced operations earlier this year", - noticed Vladimir Riabokon, Executive Vice-President, International Business Development, VimpelCom Group.
"We believe in the success of GTEL Mobile Jsc. in Vietnam. The combination of GTEL Corporation’s strengths and our partner – VimpelCom’s experiences in network deployment have greatly contributed to our results. We will take advantages of international factors to develop our business in Vietnam", – said Mr. Nguen Van Du, General Director of GTEL Corp.
At the initial stage Beeline services will be available in the largest provinces of Vietnam - Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh ńity, Danang - with more than 15 million people. By the end of 2009, GTEL-Mobile plans to provide coverage in more than 40 provinces of Vietnam with the population of about 41 million. To the date of the launch, Beeline distribution network comprises more than 7 000 sim and scratch card points of sales including such a new trade channel for Vietnamese market as branded trade counters. Beeline’s own sales offices will be opened next year in the largest cities of Vietnam. The first product under the Beeline brand in Vietnam is Big Zero tariff plan with an attractive price for on-net and off-net calls and affordable SMS-service.
"We are very pleased that according to the research conducted by Vietnamese agency «Consumer Behavior & Insight», Beeline had achieved fairly high awareness after a three week teaser campaign. Beeline’s brand is recognized by 55% respondents in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city. Such results and fast pace of network deployment became possible due to high-level expertise of our international team ", - said Alexey Blyumin, Chief Executive Officer, GTEL-Mobile.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements", as the phrase is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These statements relate to the anticipated schedule for developing our network in Cambodia. Actual timing may differ materially from that described in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including continued volatility in the economies in the markets in which the Company operates and unforeseen developments in competition, or current or future changes in the political, economic and social environment or current or future regulation of the Cambodian telecommunications industries. Additional information concerning factors that could cause results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained in VimpelCom’s public filings with the SEC, including VimpelCom’s annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008 and other public filings made by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which risk factors are incorporated herein by reference. VimpelCom disclaims any obligation to update developments of these risk factors or to announce publicly any revision to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, or to make corrections to reflect future events or developments.
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