Moscow – July 22, 2009 – Rostelecom (NYSE: ROS; RTS, MICEX: RTKM, RTKMP),  Russia’s national telecom operator and Greece’s largest telecom operator OTEGLOBE signed a Master Service Agreement, which will enable to further develop the bilateral business between the two companies. By signing the agreement the two companies will expand the coverage of their networks and increase the capabilities to provide quality services to their customers. Rostelecom will be able to offer OTEGLOBE circuits to any city and location in Russia using Rostelecom’s own extensive network, or the access to CIS, Baltic and Transcaucasia countries on the basis of partner agreements as well as transit between Europe and Hong Kong or Europe and Tokyo via the shortest quality route of TEA (Transit Europe Asia). 

On the other hand, Rostelecom will be able to get access to OTEGLOBE’s extensive network infrastructure in the Balkans and the Mediterranean. OTEGLOBE operates two dual path and fully diverse high-speed fiber-optic cable links, the GWEN and the TBN, connecting Greece with Western Europe, through Italy and through the Balkans respectively. Moreover, OTEGLOBE owns an IP/MPLS network with 14 Points of Presence in Western and South East Europe as well as an international voice network supporting IP and TDM connectivity. 

Currently Rostelecom has high-speed access links to Europe, Asia and America with Points of Presence in London, Stockholm, Helsinki, Frankfurt, New York Hong Kong and Tokyo. The interconnection between two companies is implemented via two diverse locations:  Rostelecom’s Point of Presence in Frankfurt and BSFOCS (Black Sea Fiber Optic Cable System).

“In the context of satisfying our customer needs by rendering integrated and top quality solutions, we are proud to extend our cooperation with Rostelecom,” said OTEGLOBE’s CEO Dino Andreou. “We are positive that new business opportunities will arise for both companies.”

“Active cooperation with international telecom companies is one of the priority directions for Rostelecom development, and we have made another significant step forward to consolidate our positions in the European telecom market,” Rostelecom’s General Director Anton Kolpakov commented. “This step enables direct interconnection of Rostelecom and OTEGLOBE networks enhancing opportunities for intensifying relations between our countries in various areas of telecommunications.”

OTEGLOBE, headquartered in Athens Greece, is a provider of international telecommunications wholesale services to high-capacity carriers and multi-site organizations in the broader SE European region. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of OTE (ASE: HTO, NYSE: OTE), the incumbent telecommunications provider in Greece with the strongest corporate presence in SE Europe, and has been operational since October 2000. OTEGLOBE has grown to a regional hub delivering a complete portfolio of voice, transport, mobile and corporate services over a robust infrastructure. For more information, please visit www.OTEGLOBE.gr