It is important to know, that this is the only conference in the CIS supported by World GSM Association and included into GSM World Series. Organisers are Central European Exhibitions and IBC Telecoms in cooperation with the Association of Russian GSM Operators and Third Generation Telecommunications Networks Operators Association with consulting support of the Telecommunications Department of the Ministry for Information Technologies and Communications of the RF.

The workshop “SIM Solutions for Value-Added Services” run by ORGA Kartensysteme GmbH along with Nokia’s seminar on the latest developments has opened the forum on the 7th of June.

“3G Cellular Communications Introduction in Russia” wworkshop organised by Third Generation Telecommunications Networks Operators Association, UMTS Forum and the conference event team has become a remarkable event of the forum. About 130 delegates including representatives of the state authorities, Russian communications administrations, heads of communications operators’ associations and leading operating companies, scientific and development organizations, equipment and software producers, consulting companies as well as representatives of the European Institute for Telecommunications Standards and General Radio Frequency Centre were among participants of the forum that as well was held on the 7th of June. Mr. Jean-Pierre Bienaime, Chair of UMTS Forum and Mr. Andrey Scorodumov, Executive Director of 3G Association leaded the event. World-recognised telecoms experts such as Klaus Kohrt, Halina Uryga, Paul Le Rossignol, Bosco Fernandes (UMTS Forum) together with domestic mobile market key-players - Igor Nikodimov, Natalia Rudenko, Michael Vassiliev, Gennadi Golant, Alexey Sergienko, Vladimir Pavlov, Shagit Reznikov, Yuri Gromakov (3G Association) were among seminar’s speakers. Paricipants have discussed main problems of 3G introduction in Russia including the landscape and future in Russia and worldwide, spectrum and licensing, networks trials and launches, services and market perspectives. Seminar was concluded with the sign of Long-Term Cooperation Agreement.

The opening ceremony of the conference was held on the 8th of June 2004. Plenary Session started with the welcome speeches from the First Deputy Chair of the Committee for energy, transport and communication of the State Duma of the RF Mr. V.L. Gorbachev; Moscow Mayor Mr. Y. Luzhkov; President of the Moscow Chamber for Trade and Industry Mr. L. Govorov; General Director of the Regional Commonwealth in the field of Communications Mr. N. Mukhitdinov; President of the Third Generation Telecommunications Networks Operators Association Mr. A. Krupnov and Executive Director of the Association of Russian GSM Operators Mr. V. Affanasiev

Representatives of the leading manufactures and operators working in the mobile industry were among speakers of the plenary session.

Plenary session conclude with the panel discussion on the GSM networks development problems with the participation of top managers of Russian mobile operators– Mr. D. Zimin, VimpelCom Founder and Honorary President; Mr. Y. Gromakov, MTS Vice-President; Mr. A. Nichiporenko, Megafon Deputy General Director, Y. Maslennikov, SMARTS Deputy General Director, and others. All the participants mentioned rapid GSM networks development in Russia and Russian operators avialability for 3G networks introduction.

84 conference speakers covered key problems of the cellular communications development in Russia and abroad including mobile market review and visions for Russia and the CIS; regulation and GSM growth opportunities; investments; regional development; new business models - launching new innovative services – increasing ARPU and subscriber base; implementing new technology solutions for 3G cellular networks; WLAN, GPRS, EDGE; maximising roaming; billing and tariffing efficiency etc.

Conference crowned with Panel Session, where the appreciation of the event were expressed. Increased number of the participants (350 participants from 19 countries in 2003, over 600 participants from 27 countries in 2004)as well as wider subject-matter were recorded as main achievements of the event.

27 leading Russian and international companies presented their mobile novelties and latest developments at “GSM in Russia and the CIS” exhibition. Among exhibitors are Amoi Electronics Co., Bercut, interWAVE Communications Inc., Intec Telecom Systems Ltd., Empower Interactive, EVISTEL, Future Product Design a.s., Gemplus, Giesecke & Devrient Technology, Intelsat Ltd, Kabira Technologies, LCS Group, LogicaCMG Wireless Networks, Logos Smart Card A/S, Microelectrуnica Espaсola, NTC Natex, Nitecrest, Nokia, Nortel Networks, ORGA Zelenograd, ORGA Systems enabling services GmbH, NTC Protei, Starhome, TECORE Wireless Systems, Teligent, XponCard, MF Tariff.

Convention organizers would like to thank sponsors of the event - Alcatel, Bercut, Gemplus, Intelsat, Ltd, LogicaCMG Wireless Networks, Nokia, Nortel Networks, ORGA Zelenograd,SIEMENS.

Preparation and holding of GSM in Russia and the CIS / Wireless Russia-2004 were covered by leading specialised publications, information agencies and portals including Vestnik Svyazi, InformCourier-Svyaz, Mobile Communications, Interfax, News Base,Mobile Systems, Connect!, LAN, Mobile News Review, Billing. CT, Age of Quality, Maximov Publications, Mobile World, Sotovik, Standard. Conference participants were impressed by new Wireless Russia journal that was published by Mobile Communications International especially for the event. The journal is unique for the Russian market and contains the informational and analytical articles as well as interview with the industry key-players and reference book on mobile terminology.

Organisers would like to thank all the participants of the 2nd International Conference and Exhibition on Wireless Communications “GSM in Russia and the CIS / Wireless Russia-2004” and hope to see you at the 3rd annual conference to be held in Radisson SAS Slavyanskaya Hotel on 21-22 June 2005.

For further information regarding International Conference and Exhibition on Wireless Communications “GSM in Russia and the CIS / Wireless Russia-2004” please contact organisers – Central European Exhibitions (part of Expomedia Group, full info on www.expocee.ru) address is 40-1 Mosfilmovskaya St., Moscow 119285 Russia, phone +7 095 788 6553, fax: +7 095 788 6554 e-mail: 3gsm@expocee.ru or IBC Global Conferences (part of Informa Telecoms Group, full info on www.informa.com).

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