Rostelecom, Russia’s national long-distance telecommunications operator, took part in the 8 ^th annual Carriers World Asia conference (March 6-8, 2006, Hong Kong). The Company also became one of the conference sponsors.

Carriers World Asia 2006 brought together 300 representatives of 50 telecommunications companies from around the region and globally to discuss opportunities through deployment of next generation networks and services. Among other things, the conference focused on the latest technology trends and service offerings in Asia along with business opportunities in the markets of different Asian countries.

To establish and deepen lasting partnership as well as to open the Company’s new points of presence outside of Russia, during the conference Rostelecom’s delegation had a number of bilateral meetings with the representatives of leading carriers from Asia and Europe.

Rostelecom’s Europe-Asia transit (TEA) services provide international telecom companies with end-to-end SDH transmission links between the two regions (including POPs in China, Japan and Korea). Thanks to its high-technology terrestrial countrywide network, Rostelecom can offer the shortest and most reliable transcontinental route with minimal Round Trip Delay (RTD) essential for business applications, VoIP, videoconferencing etc.

Rostelecom was the first Russian telecom operator entering Europe-Asia transit market in 2004 and, as of now, is in advantageous position for offering TEA services to large international operators and corporate customers.

The delegation of Russia at the Carriers World Asia 2006 conference was headed by Rostelecom’s Commercial Director Olga Rumyantseva. While giving a report “Emerging opportunities in Asian markets & Technologies”, she underlined: “Participating in such important industry’s event gives the Company additional opportunities to present global telecom market players our key projects and latest achievements, including provision of TEA services.”