Beeline (telecommunications)

Infobox Company
company_name = VimpelCom
company_
company_type = Public (nyse|VIP)
foundation = 1992
location = flagicon|Russia Moscow, Russia
key_people = Alexander Izosimov, CEO
divisions = Golden Telecom (Sovintel) — since 2008
industry = Mobile telecommunications
products = Mobile networks
revenue = profit $7.17 billion USD (2007)cite book |title=VimpelCom 2007 Form 20-F |origdate= |origyear= |origmonth= |url=http://www.vimpelcom.com/mediacache/6d107d83-7700-4665-9297-91e69b0633a5.PDF |format= |accessdate=2008-07-03 |pages=pp. 3-4 ]
operating_income = profit $2.21 billion USD (2007)
net_income = profit $1.46 billion USD (2007)
homepage = [http://www.vimpelcom.com www.vimpelcom.com] , [http://www.beeline.ru www.beeline.ru]

"Beeline" ( _ru. Билайн) is the trademark of the second largest cell-phone operator in Russian Federation, VimpelCom. Its headquarters are located in Moscow. [cite web |url=http://www.vimpelcom.com/contacts/index.wbp |title=VimpelCom - Contacts |accessdate=2008-07-03]

As of January 2005 Beeline has more than 25 million subscribers in 74 of 89 Russian regions, and in Kazakhstan, and less than 1% market share short of becoming the leader of the Russian cellular market in terms of subscriber base. Its revenue, profits and revenue per subscriber (ARPU) figures are slightly lower that competitor's, Mobile TeleSystems's, while being gradually improving in latest years.Fact|date=February 2007

Its current (As of July, 2008) license portfolio covers a territory where 97% of Russia's population resides, as well as 100% of the territory of Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia and Armenia. [cite web |url=http://www.vimpelcom.com/about/company.wbp |title=VimpelCom - Geography |accessdate=2008-07-03]

Vimpelcom was founded in 1992 and initially operated AMPS/D-AMPS network in Moscow area. In 1997 Vimpelcom was taken public by Russian-born American financier Leonid Rozhetskin, becoming the first Russian company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE|VIP). [ [http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/v/vimpelcom/index.html VimpelCom News - The New York Times ] ]

In 1997 the company began GSM network roll-out. In 2001 it started to start GSM networks throughout Russia's regions, having gradually increased its regional presence to the majority of Russia's territory.Fact|date=February 2007

In 2004, Vimpelcom, in its first move outside Russia's territory, acquired Kazakhstani cellular operator KaR-Tel (brand names K-Mobile and Excess). [cite web |url=http://www.vimpelcom.com/about/history.wbp?y=2004 |title=Vimpelcom - History - 2004 |accessdate=2008-07-03]

In November 2005 Vimpelcom stepped further with foreign acquisitions by acquiring 100% of Ukrainian RadioSystems, a marginal Ukrainian GSM operator operating under Wellcom and Mobi brands. The deal has been surrounded by a controversy involving two major shareholders of Vimpelcom: the Russian Alfa Group and Telenor, the incumbent telco in Norway.cite news |first=Bente |last=Bjorndal |title=Telenor to fight new Alfa Group lawsuit over Ukraine's WellCom |url=http://www.forbes.com/technology/feeds/afx/2005/05/24/afx2050040.html |work=Forbes |date=2005-05-24 |accessdate=2008-07-03 ]

In 2004, Vimpelcom CEO Alexander Izosimov, formerly a top Mars, Incorporated executive, was named the best Russian manager by the Managers Association of Russia. [cite web |url=http://www.vimpelcom.com/about/awards.wbp |title=Vimpelcom - Awards |accessdate=2008-07-03]

Vimpelcom's main competitors are Mobile TeleSystems and MegaFon. [cite news |title=Svyazinvest Puts Cell Assets Up for Sale |url=http://www.kommersant.com/p777529/r_529/Svyazinvest_Cell_Communication/ |work=Kommersant |date=2007-06-25 |accessdate=2008-07-03 ]

One of the internationally known shareholders of Vimpelcom is Telenor, Norwegian telecom conglomerate. [cite book |title=VimpelCom 2007 Form 20-F |origdate= |origyear= |origmonth= |url=http://www.vimpelcom.com/mediacache/6d107d83-7700-4665-9297-91e69b0633a5.PDF |format= |accessdate=2008-07-03 |pages=p. 9 ]

Ukraine

Beeline Ukraine (known as Ukrainian RadioSystems (URS) before February 2007) is a mobile operator in Ukraine with 2.22 million GSM subscribers (February 2007). The company operates under Beeline brand. According to company, its network currently covers 60% of the Ukrainian population.

The company was founded in 1995, and Motorola acquired 49% of the company in 1996. URS obtained a GSM-900 license in 1997, but Motorola backed off the venture the same year due to an alleged government favoritism to another mobile operator. The Korean Daewoo picked up the ownership, didn't do much to grow the business and sold it to a Ukrainian financial group in 2003. In November 2005, 100% of the company's ownership was acquired by the Russian VimpelCom for $230 million. The deal was surrounded by a controversy involving two major shareholders of VimpelCom: the Russian Alfa Group and Telenor, a Norwegian telecom conglomerate.

Following the acquisition by Vimpelcom, all of the company's services have been rebranded to the common "Beeline", similar to a VimpelCom's major mobile assets in Russia.

Beeline Ukraine network code is +38068*******.

Armenia

16 November 2006 deal was over. By that deal VimpelCom bought CJSC "ArmenTel" from Greece Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA (OTE). 90 % was bought for €341.9 million. Beside that VimpelCom took "ArmenTel""'s debts (€40 million). Other 10 % belong to Armenia's government. In 2008 name of mobile net "ArmenTel" was changed to "Beeline" while CJSC's name is what it was before that, i.e. "ArmenTel". Armenian Beeline's network codes are +37491****** or +37499****** where +374 is Armenia's network code.

References

External links

* [http://www.vimpelcom.com/ Investor relations web site]
* [http://www.beeline.ru/ Corporate web site]
* [http://www.cellular-news.com/story/19209.php "MegaFon in talks on buying Uzbekistan's Coscom"]