August 1, 2008, Moscow, Rostov-on-Don: COMSTAR – United TeleSystems (COMSTAR-UTS JSC, LSE: CMST), the leading provider of integrated telecommunication services in Russia and the CIS, announced that CJSC Digital Telephone Networks – South (DTN) – leading provider of telecommunications services in the South Federal area of the RF, member of COMSTAR-UTS group, starts commercial provisioning of digital interactive internet-TV services (IP-TV) in Rostov-on-Don from the 1st of August, 2008.

Signal of digital multiprogram-TV is transmitted via the existing telephone lines of the operator using ADSL and ADSL2+ technologies, and in the nearest future using Ethernet technology. DTN used Terayon remultiplexers and its own technological solutions for implementation of IP-TV service on company’s own telecommunication network.

Now current DTN subscribers of high-speed Internet access, who chose any of the existing tariff plans and new subscribers of the operator in Rostov-on-Don obtained an opportunity to watch more than 60 on-air, satellite and cable TV-channels of perfect digital quality and of different thematic scope. IP-TV service can be connected as a value-added service to broadband Internet access but it can also be connected as separate service. In addition to that, technologies employed by DTN make it possible to provide voice communications services together with Internet-TV services over operator’s IP network (VoIP-telephony). 

At the moment, DTN subscribers have a possibility to watch channels of IP-TV packet directly on their PC’s display. In autumn 2008, the Company plans to organize connection of the service to TV-sets with the help of special subscriber device (set-top box). Currently, the operator has started receiving requests for connection of the mentioned above services. It is possible to connect and administrate IP-TV service at personal account web page on operator’s web site.

«When DTN product line, which consists of such baseline services as telephony communications and broadband Internet access, was added by IP-TV we actually implemented Triple Play concept (transmission over one network of voice, video and data) in one of the largest regions of Russia, - commented Victor Koresh, Vice-president for regional development, Comstar – United TeleSystems. – Consequently, COMSTAR-UTS, as a universal operator, has gained an important competitive advantage on the telecommunication market of the South of Russia. Dynamics of the persistent growth of connections during the test period of IP-TV services in Rostov-on-Don shows the high potential of the service ».

«Launch of IP-TV is an important phase in the development of our company and we are not going to be satisfied with what has already been achieved, - said Mikhail Monastyrsky, Director of CJSC Digital Telephone Networks - South. – launching a new service on the market we first of all focused on active Internet users, who spend significant part of their time at PCs, and also on people who live in private sector where it is not economically reasonable to lay standard cable television. However, I believe that the service will be also in demand among other user groups. In the nearest future, we will offer our subscribers interesting bundled services, such as «Telephone + ADSL + IP-TV». DTN plans include further improvement of services related to digital content broadcasting, extension of the broadcasted TV-channels list, implementation of value-added interactive services, such as «Video on demand». In the middle of 2009 we plan to start broadcasting in high definition format – HDTV».

For more information about IP-TV service and tariffs, please visit DTN web site: www.aaanet.ru.

DTN Company operates on the market of digital pay television since November 2005, when the operator put into operation modern hybrid optical-coaxial cable television network in Rostov-on-Don. Now DTN provides cable TV services to inhabitants of Azov, Aksay, Belaya Kalitva, Taganrog, Shakhty and other cities of Rostov region. CATV operator actively develops its network and makes it possible for its subscribers to watch more than 50 TV-channels together with such services as data transmission and Internet access at speed rate from 10 to 100 Mbps.