April 23, 2009, Moscow: COMSTAR – United TeleSystems (COMSTAR-UTS, LSE: CMST), the leading supplier of integrated telecommunication solutions in Russia and the CIS, introduces a monitoring system for communication networks and services (a single fault management system). The implementation process started in early 2009 and is scheduled to be completed over two years.

As of today, COMSTAR-UTS has already implemented the monitoring system in its Moscow and Saint-Petersburg branches. Currently, the system is being launched in the Moscow Region branch. Within the next two years, the system will be put into operation in all branches and affiliates of COMSTAR-UTS including Moscow City Telephone Network and STREAM-TV.

EMC Smarts software has been selected to develop a single monitoring system. The solution has been supplied by Envision Group that has an extensive experience in development and integration of control and monitoring systems. EMC Smarts automatically detects a major cause of network failures on a real-time basis and calculates their impact on operation as well as controls and analyzes events on-line. Monitoring of networks and services provided by the Group is carried out by a single global center whose tasks include operability check of network services and status monitoring of communication channels to regional networks. Additionally, regional monitoring centers are being established to monitor service operability on a regional level.

Alexander Kirillov, Vice President for Technologies of COMSTAR – United TeleSystems, says: “Enhanced quality of services is one of high-priority strategic tasks that COMSTAR-UTS has to face in years to come. We are successively launching the projects to solve this task, one of the most complex and important challenges for any up-to-date operator. This monitoring system enables timely identification of all emergency situations, prompt response to them and prevention of their occurrence. Implementation of such systems has a significant impact on a service quality: actually, subscribers may take no notice of failures in network operation and services.”

Alexander Goltsov, Deputy Director General of Envision Group, notes: “This solution developed based on EMC Smarts ensures end-to-end control of traffic monitoring processes and quality of services throughout the whole operator’s network. This enables timely identification of failures on all levels of network infrastructure and maintaining a high quality of service.”

A decision to establish a single fault management system in all companies comprising COMSTAR-UTS has been approved during a meeting of the Scientific and Technical Council of COMSTAR-UTS.