Lucent Technologies Provides End-to-End Solution for New CDMA450 (IMT-MC 450) Network Operated by ZAO Tver Cellular Communications

FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2004

MOSCOW – “Sky Link,” a telecommunications holding company established to develop a nationwide CDMA450 network in Russia, today announced the deployment of its network in Tver using equipment, software and services from Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU).  ZAO Tver Cellular Communications will operate the new network and provide high-quality, mobile voice and high-speed data services at speeds of up to 153 kilobits per second, enabling Sky Link to expand its coverage to include Tver, an important region located between Moscow and St. Petersburg.

For Sky Link’s network expansion in Tver, Lucent provided an end-to-end solution, including its Flexent® CDMA450 base stations.  Lucent Worldwide Services provided its expertise to ensure a smooth network deployment including installation support, network integration, and other services.

"Sky Link is committed to providing its subscribers with exceptional coverage and value, and the launch of the network in Tver is an important step to deliver high-quality voice and high-speed data services to both Tver residents and the people traveling between St. Petersburg and Moscow,” said Raisa Rozinova, general director of Sky Link.  “Tver Cellular Communications is one of the most experienced operators in Russia.  We are confident that the company will efficiently operate this new CDMA450 network, which brings us a step closer to a nationwide CDMA450 network.”

"As the world’s leading CDMA450 network infrastructure supplier, we are happy to participate in the deployment of Sky Link’s CDMA450 network in Tver," said Dmitry Kamensky, managing director of Lucent Technologies Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States.  "We will continue to partner with Sky Link to help the company reach its goal of introducing advanced mobile services throughout all the regions of Russia."

Before the end of 2004, Sky Link plans to launch commercial CDMA450 networks in the following cities: Izhevsk, Nizhniy Novgorod, Voronezh, Omsk, Novosibirsk, Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Vladikavkaz, Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk, Kaliningrad, Murmansk, and Saratov.  Companies that operated first-generation NMT-450 networks in these regions will launch CDMA450 networks that provide new, advanced services under the Sky Link brand name.  The federal Sky Link network deployment is expected to be complete before the end of 2008.

“Our company always strives to provide our subscribers with the highest quality services,” said Vitaly Kostenko, general director of ZAO Tver Cellular Communications.  “The introduction of the new CDMA450 network in Tver will bring advanced mobile services to our network coverage area and enables us to participate in the creation of the Sky Link federal network.”

Lucent, the first to deliver CDMA450 solutions globally, has deployed commercial networks in 450 MHz spectrum for Delta Telecom and Moscow Cellular Communications -- both part of the Sky Link initiative in Russia -- Zapp in Romania, Uzbek Telecom in Uzbekistan and Vietnam Power Telecom, and is conducting numerous CDMA450 trials with customers around the world. 

A global leader in the development of commercial 3G spread-spectrum solutions, Lucent's Mobility Solutions Group has deployed CDMA2000, CDMA450, and W-CDMA/UMTS networks with more than 30 mobile operators on the continents of North and South America, Asia, Europe and in the Australia/New Zealand region.  Lucent also is collaborating with major UMTS/W-CDMA operators in Asia, Europe and North America on the development of their 3G networks.  Lucent has deployed more than 90,000 spread-spectrum base stations for mobile operators worldwide, of which 50,000 are already supporting 3G services.

ZAO Sky Link was established in June 2003 to implement a federal cellular communications network based on CDMA450 technology. Sistema JSFC and RTDC are Sky Link shareholders.  CDMA450 networks under the Sky Link trademark are now available in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novgorod, Petrozavodsk, and Pskov.  ZAO Sky Link is a member of International 450 Association (IA-450).  For further information, please visit: www.skylink.ru.

ZAO Tver Cellular Communication was established in 1993.  The company was one of the first cellular operators in Russia and the first to provide mobile services in the Tver telecom market.  The Tver region occupies 84,100 square kilometers with a population of 1.65 million people.  The company provides network coverage in Tver, Torzhok, Gorodnya, Rzhev, Vishniy Volochok and Ostashkov.

Lucent Technologies designs and delivers the systems, services and software that drive next-generation communications networks.  Backed by Bell Labs research and development, Lucent uses its strengths in mobility, optical, software, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for its customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks.  Lucent’s customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide.  For more information on Lucent Technologies, which has headquarters in Murray Hill, N.J., USA, visit www.lucent.com.

In Russia and CIS, Lucent Technologies offers its solutions to carriers, ISPs, and business customers.  For more information on Lucent Technologies in Russia and CIS, visit its Russian Web site at https://www.lucent.ru.