Rostelecom, Russia’s national long-distance telecommunications operator, is participating in the 28 ^th annual Conference & Exhibition held by the Pacific Telecommunications Council (Pacific Telecommunications Council, PTC) on January 15–18, 2006 in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

PTC’s member since 1995, Rostelecom is among the conference sponsors for the second consecutive time.

The theme for PTC’06 - “Shift happens: Transition to IP” - reflects the mainstream of modern infocommunications: an evergrowing influence of IP technologies which started from e-mail and now being introduced into mobile, TV, cinema, entertainment etc. At the plenary sessions and panel discussions the conference attendees are changing opinions on the latest technology innovations and business models developed on the back of IP. The shift to IP impacts every market aspect, it influences the society in the fundamentally new way, it changes the strategy of trunk telecom networks’ development.

PTC’06 is attended by 1000 representatives of telecommunications companies from over 40 countries around the world. This year, Rostelecom has reported at the Conference on the Company’s market position under new regulations for the provision of long-distance services effective in the Russian Federation from January 1, 2006.

To establish and deepen lasting business ties as well as to open the Company’s new points of presence outside of Russia, Rostelecom’s delegation is planning to have over 30 bilateral meetings with the representative of Asian, American and European telecommunications companies. During the first meetings already held, international operators once more time confirmed their keen interest in Europe-Asian transit (TEA) services offered by Rostelecom since 2004.

The Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC) is an international, non-profit, non-governmental membership organization with the mission to promote the development of telecommunications and information technology throughout the Pacific region. Its annual Conference traditionally attracts top executives from the key players in the Asian-Pacific telecoms market.