FORM 6-K
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Issuer
August 05, 2004
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Commission file number: 333-12032
Mobile TeleSystems OJSC
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Russian Federation
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
4,
Marksistskaya Street
Moscow 109147
Russian Federation
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F ý Form 40-F o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes o No ý
MTS Announces Subscriber Growth Numbers for July 2004
Moscow, Russian Federation – August 5, 2004 – Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (“MTS” - NYSE: MBT), the largest mobile phone operator in Russia and Ukraine, announces that its consolidated subscriber base reached 24.12 million users on July 31, 2004.
During July 2004, MTS’ consolidated subscriber base on a net basis increased by 1.34 million subscribers, of which 230 thousand were added in Moscow and the Moscow region.
Commenting on the results, MTS’ Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Mikhail Susov, said: “For many years MTS has been the number one mobile operator in Russia. Over the past month we have become the leading operator in Moscow, the country’s core market. MTS’ success is a result of our continued efforts to offer the best services with innovative pricing for our customers. Our “People Talk” campaign, launched at the beginning of the year, has also been a major contributor to the improved reception of the Company’s brands in Russia. Furthermore, the countries of the CIS in which we operate are showing an even higher growth rate than the Russian market and we anticipate great potential in the development of the mobile phone market in Uzbekistan.”
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July 31, |
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June 30, |
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Growth |
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July 31, |
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Growth |
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Subs |
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% |
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Subs |
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% |
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Total consolidated subscribers, end of period(1) (mln) |
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24.12 |
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22.78 |
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1.34 |
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5.9 |
% |
12.07 |
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12.04 |
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99.7 |
% |
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Russia (mln) |
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19.16 |
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18.14 |
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1.01 |
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5.6 |
% |
9.91 |
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9.25 |
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93.4 |
% |
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Moscow and the Moscow region (mln) |
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6.35 |
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6.12 |
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0.23 |
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3.7 |
% |
4.29 |
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2.06 |
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48.0 |
% |
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St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region (mln) |
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1.52 |
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1.46 |
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0.06 |
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4.2 |
% |
0.98 |
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0.54 |
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55.6 |
% |
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Rest of Russia (mln) |
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11.29 |
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10.56 |
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0.72 |
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6.9 |
% |
4.64 |
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6.64 |
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143.1 |
% |
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Ukraine (mln) |
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4.96 |
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4.63 |
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0.33 |
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7.0 |
% |
2.17 |
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2.79 |
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128.9 |
% |
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MTS Belarus(2) (thousand) |
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817.5 |
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744.7 |
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72.80 |
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9.8 |
% |
207.8 |
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609.7 |
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293.4 |
% |
On August 2, 2004, MTS completed its acquisition of Uzdunrobita, the largest mobile phone operator in Uzbekistan. The number of Uzdunrobita subscribers will be reflected in MTS’ consolidated subscriber base as from August.
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For further information contact:
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Mobile TeleSystems, Moscow |
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tel: +7 095 911 6553 |
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Andrey Braginski, Investor and Public Relations |
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e-mail: ir@mts.ru |
(1) MTS owns 50% stakes in Volgograd Mobile and Astrakhan Mobile, local mobile operators in the Volga part of Russia. MTS does not consolidate these companies that provide services to less than 10 thousand subscribers.
(2) MTS owns a 49% stake in Mobile TeleSystems LLC, a mobile operator in Belarus, which is not consolidated.
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***
Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (“MTS”) is the largest mobile phone operator in Russia and Ukraine. Together with its subsidiaries, the Company services over 24.1 million subscribers. The regions of Russia, as well as Belarus, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, in which MTS and its subsidiaries are licensed to provide GSM services, have a total population of approximately 225.8 million. Since June 2000, MTS’ Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange with the ticker symbol MBT. Additional information about MTS can be found on MTS’ website at www.mtsgsm.com.
***
Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of MTS, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward looking statements by terms such as “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “will,” “could,” “may” or “might,” and the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not intend to update these statements to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. We refer you to the documents MTS files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the Company’s most recent Form 20-F. These documents contain and identify important factors, including those contained in the section captioned “Risk Factors” that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, our competitive environment, dependence on new service development and tariff structures, rapid technological and market change, acquisition strategy, risks associated with telecommunications infrastructure, risks associated with operating in Russia, volatility of stock price, financial risk management and future growth subject to risks.
***
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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MOBILE TELESYSTEMS OJSC |
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By: |
Vassily Sidorov |
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Name: |
Vassily Sidorov |
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Title: |
President/CEO |
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Date: August 05, 2004 |
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