8 April 2008, Moscow. COMSTAR – United TeleSystems (JSC COMSTAR-UTS, LSE: CMST), the leading operator of integrated telecommunication services in Russia and the CIS received the national award in the area of effective brand building – EFFIE/THE BEST BRAND 2007 in the category “Hi-Tech Goods and Services (computers, software, communication and telecom services)”.

EFFIE/THE BEST BRAND is an Award annually honoring the major outstanding achievements in the brand value building on the Russian market.

JSC Comstar-UTS has won this award for the first time, although its products and services had been recognized the best brands more than once before. In 2003 this honor was conferred on the trade name «Logic Line» (JSC Comstar-UTS intelligent telecom services), and in 2004 on the brand STREAM, used in trading broadband Internet and interactive TV in Moscow.

Sergey Nazarov, VP Marketing, JSC Comstar-UTS, commented: «We regard this high award as a sign of recognition by professional community of the progress achieved by our Company in the telecommunication market, and, above all, as a corollary of brand promotion efforts in Comstar, going to reach its 20th anniversary next year. Ever since the brand has been going through several noticeable changes, thus marking all the phases on the Company’s path. The present one highlights the status of JSC Comstar-UTS being a modern, fast growing company, a fixed line leader in residential and corporate segments and a key player in the broadband Internet market».

An umbrella brand, one across telecommunication companies of AFK SISTEMA, was launched in 2006. They were given graphically similar trade marks but used different visual patterns to better mold their image and promote theirs offerings. By December 2006 JSC Comstar-UTS completed the main re-branding phases. In 2007 a whole program was implemented to enhance a new Comstar’s imagery. In parallel, actions were undertaken to invigorate its status of a big-time fixed-line carrier with its inherent values such as reliability and quality, multiserviceness, client-orientedness, and innovativeness. Considerable efforts were spent as well to single out the leading position of JSC Comstar-UTS in the group of fixed-line operators beside OJSC MGTS, CJSC Comstar-Direct and regional companies.

Founded in 1998 to introduce modern market instruments in Russia, the EFFIE/THE BEST BRAND has become the highest accolade for companies seeking the leadership in various sectors of economy. Since 2001 the Russian award the EFFIE/THE BEST BRAND has joined the international EFFIE system, viewed as the most prestigious contest in the sphere of effective marketing communications in 33 countries worldwide.