10 August, 2004: The fourth largest Russian mobile provider and leading operator in the Urals, OAO Uralsvyazinform (USI), has commissioned Siemens mobile to expand its GSM network. The order covers delivery and installation of GSM technology in the city of Yekaterinburg, the Sverdlovsk region and the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous District, and is worth €13.5mn. In addition, Siemens and USI have signed a letter of intent for network expansion in the Urals which will be worth a total volume of around €40mn for the next two years.

By the end of August 2004, Siemens will expand the existing GSM network of the Russian mobile provider Uralsvyazinform in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous District. This encompasses the delivery of more than 100 base stations as well as switches for up to 500,000 subscribers.

In Yekaterinburg, and the Sverdlovsk region, where USI acquired a new GSM 900/1800 license in December 2003, Siemens will supply 170 EDGE-capable base stations, switching systems with high-performance processors for 500,000 subscribers, a central network management system, and network planning software. The network will go into commercial operation by fall 2004.