Russia, Ukraine & Estonia choose to join Comfone Key2roam®

08. April 2005

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Comfone's annual User Group Meeting was successfully brought to a close with the signing of three new Key2roam® partners. At the end of the two-day workshop held at Comfone's headquarters, Novgorod Telecommunications of Russia, the Ukrainian operator Golden Telecom and Elisa of Estonia all chose to join Comfone's Key2roam® community. The development closely follows the signing of Bharti Group's 23 Airtel networks in February at Cannes, now making a total footprint of 37 operators throughout the world.

Yuri Zhuzhmenko, General Director of Novgorod Telecommunications, commented,

"Comfone and Novgorod Telecommunications have already enjoyed a long-standing and positive working relationship over the last 3 years and my expectations for the future, with Key2roam®, are even higher."

Having begun commercial operation in April 1998, the company now provides mobile services within the territory of the Novgorod region. Novgorod telecommunications is part of the Indigo Group and it provides roaming services for 9 regional GSM operators throughout Russia.

Yuri Zhuzhmenko, General Director, and Ivan Kharlamov, Head of Roaming department, Novgorod Telecommunications, explain why they chose to join the Key2roam® community.

The second operator to commit themselves to the Key2roam® community was Golden Telecom of Ukraine. Konstantin Trofimov, International Roaming Manager, said,

"Golden Telecom is ready to extend its partnership with Comfone. We have decided to take a proactive approach and believe Comfone Key2roam® to be a good service and an excellent solution. We look forward to rapid implementation!"

In 1996 Golden Telecom GSM became the first operator in Ukraine and Eastern Europe to introduce a GSM 1800 service.

The Estonian mobile phone operator, Elisa (former Radiolinja Eesti), with a total of 225,500 mobile subscribers and a turnover from mobile communications that amounted to EEK 1.179bn by the end of 2004, then took to the podium to sign their Key2roam® contract. Tarvo Jammer, IREG Technician, completed the deal by saying,

"Thank you Comfone for your help in making our life easier."




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