Tele2 launches its third gsm network in Russia
TELE2 LAUNCHES ITS THIRD GSM NETWORK IN RUSSIA New York and Stockholm - Tele2 AB, ("Tele2"), (Nasdaq Stock Market: TLTOA and TLTOB and Stockholmsbörsen: TEL2A and TEL2B), the leading alternative pan-European telecommunications company, today announced that on 30 June, in St Petersburg, it will officially launch its third Russian GSM-network under the Tele2 brand. The population covered by the GSM-license in St Petersburg is 5 million and the region's mobile penetration is approximately 35%. Tele2 is the fourth mobile operator to launch GSM-services in the region. St Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia and is an important commercial and cultural center. As in Irkutsk and Rostov, the GSM- network in St Petersburg was launched based on the GSM1800 standard, having similar coverage per base station as the GSM900 standard by using a phased array antenna solution from Radio Components. Lars-Johan Jarnheimer, CEO of Tele2 said; "The GSM-launch in St Petersburg follows on from our successful launches in Irkutsk and Rostov. Russia represents a great opportunity for us, as the Russian mobile market offers substantial growth potential". Tele2 AB, formed in 1993, is the leading alternative pan-European telecommunications company offering fixed and mobile telephony, data network and Internet services under the brands Tele2, Tango and Comviq to over 17.7 million people in 22 countries. Tele2 operates Datametrix, which specializes in systems integration, 3C Communications, providing integrated credit card processing, web payment solutions and public payphones; Transac, providing billing and transaction processing service; C³, offering co-branded pre-paid calling cards and Optimal Telecom, the price-guaranteed residential router device. The Group offers cable television services and, together with MTG, owns the Internet portal Everyday.com. The Company is listed on the Stockholmsbörsen, under TEL2A and TEL2B, and on the Nasdaq Stock Market under TLTOA and TLTOB. CONTACTS Lars-Johan Jarnheimer Telephone: + 46 8 562 640 00 President and CEO, Tele2 AB Andrew Best/ Dwayne Taylor Telephone: + 44 20 7321 5022 Investor enquiries Visit us at our homepage: http://www.Tele2.com ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/07/01/20030630BIT00750/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/07/01/20030630BIT00750/wkr0002.pdf