Beeline's full name. Beeline company: high technology and youthful spirit
VimpelCom is a holding company that has become an innovator in the field cellular communications on the territory of the country. This is the first Russian company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, which later became part of VEON, one of the world leaders in mobile telecommunications.
Basic information about Vympel Communications
| Organizational and legal form | Public joint stock company |
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| Participants of PJSC (founders according to the Unified State Register of Legal Entities) |
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| Management |
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| Company structure in the Russian Federation |
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| Main product of the company | The company provides its communication services to the population under the BEELINE brand name. Included in the Big Four - the top largest operators in the Russian Federation (MTS, Megafon, Beeline, TELE 2) |
| Revenue of JSC Vimpel-Communications based on the results of 2016 (according to financial statements) | 272.4 billion rubles |
| Number of employees | over 23,000 people (as of the end of 2016, the number of employees was 23,602 people) |
| Official website of the company | |
| Main office | Moscow, st. Eighth of March, 10, p. 144 |
| Russian market coverage | 23% at the end of 2016 |
| Number of subscribers | 57 million users |
History of VimpelCom
Stages of company development:
- 1992 - Start of operation of the experimental network of the AMPS standard. Year of foundation of the company and registration of JSC VimpelCom.
- 1994 - official sales of the company's product under the Beeline brand begin (2,000 subscribers as of July 28)
- 1996 - registration of the Company in the register of the New York Stock Exchange (50,000 subscribers at the end of the year)
- 1997 - obtaining a GSM license. The appearance of the first roaming contracts.
- 1998 - contract with Telenor - the Norwegian company buys out 25% + 1 share of the Vimpel-Communications company. Development of strategic partnership.
- 2001 - Alfa Group becomes a shareholder of the company. The Beeline network has 2 million users as of December (including regions).
- 2002 - VimpelCom, together with Ericsson, were the first in the country to release a service for transmitting MMS (graphic messages). More than 5 million subscribers.
- 2004 - 66 Beeline service regions. "Vympel-Communications" is the leader in coverage of the country's territory.
Launch of the EDGE platform (first launch into commercial use).
- 2005 - formation of new accounting active subscribers to monitor the user base. Providing a Mobile Mail service that gives users access to corporate email through the use of mobile phone.
- 2006 - entry into foreign markets and expansion of influence in neighboring countries - Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, etc. Enter additional tariff for labor migrants in order to provide users with communications with the CIS countries.
In 2006, a unique tariff plan for people with hearing impairments (Communication) was launched.
- 2007 - opening of the first flagship center in Moscow. Entering the Georgian market under the Beeline brand, opening sales offices.
- 2008 - merger with Golden Telecom - creation single operator on the territory of the Russian Federation and CIS countries.
- 2009 - launch of the first 3G facilities in Moscow.
- 2010 - a key event in the history of the company - the merger with Kyivstar - the largest mobile operator in Ukraine. The merged company is named VimpelCom LTD. Holding registration is in Bermuda, head office is the Netherlands.
Distribution of the authorized capital of the merged company: 38.46% - Altimo (Alfa group); 38.84% - Telenor; 22.7% - in free float (listing on the New York Stock Exchange).
According to Interfax, VimpelCom LTD is a holding company present in 13 countries around the world, the number of users is 207 million subscribers (based on the results of 2016). The main product is voice communications, data services, broadband Internet, digital and data services.
In March 2017, rebranding was carried out, VimpelCom Ltd was renamed VEON (this did not affect the Russian division of VimpelCom)
- 2012 - having purchased an additional 0.1% of shares, Vympel-Communications Company becomes the owner of 50% of the shares of the Euroset network (the remaining 50% belongs to Megafon).
Receiving an award for additional services of multiservice operators in the field of home digital television.
- 2017 - termination of cooperation with Megafon within the Euroset. Megafon is buying out 50% of the existing shares of VimpelCom in exchange for 2,100 Euroset stores (Euroset retains the status of an autonomous operating company).
VimpelCom in numbers
- Market share - about 23% of the cellular services market (Big Four Russian operators).
- 57 million subscribers in the Russian Federation.
- 5 years with the possibility of extension - the validity period of the agreement concluded by VimpelCom with Huawei and Nokia. The main component of the agreement is the transfer of Vympel Communications networks to outsourcing. The holding's partners will manage the network, optimize processes, and maintain equipment. The transition to the new model will take place during 2017, depending on the region.
Note. Beeline is the only cellular operator operating on the Commander Islands in the Bering Sea.
Main product of the company
The main product presented by Vympel Communications is mobile telecommunications under the Beeline brand:
- mobile communications for individuals and corporate clients;
- Mobile Internet;
- home Internet and TV;
- sales of equipment: sale of phones, laptops, etc.
In July 2017, a new communication network was launched in Russia. VEON platforms— a new messenger that can be used by clients regardless of their cellular data operator (free for Beeline users).
Since 2010, VimpelCom has also offered franchises for the development of its own cellular communication stores.
Key performance indicators of PJSC "Vympel-Communications"
The company's reporting is provided in the public domain within the framework of compliance with the current legislation of the Russian Federation.
| Financial indicator | Based on the results of 2016 | Based on the results of 2015 | % change |
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| Revenue (in billion rubles) | |||
| Profit from sales (in billion rubles) | |||
| Net profit (in billion rubles) | |||
| Retained earnings (in billion rubles) | |||
| Fixed assets of the company (in billion rubles) | |||
| Accounts receivable (in billion rubles) | |||
| Accounts payable (in billion rubles) |
Note. PJSC accounting is carried out in a specialized ERP system ORACLE E-Business Suite. Registers are generated automatically, information is stored electronically (data can be printed at the request of interested parties and regulatory authorities).
Return on sales = Net profit / revenue = 19.8 billion / 272.4 billion = 0.07 (7%)
As a result of the mergers, VimpelCom PJSC is now a subsidiary of VEON. The main co-owners are LetterOne (founders: Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, Alexey Kuzmichev (47.9%) and Telenor (19.7%).
Exchange
Some shares of VEON Corporation are listed on the Nasdag stock exchange.
VEON stock price $4.09 (as of 07/31/2017) - drop by 0.04 (0.97%)
Source - Nasdaq
Personnel policy
To ensure continuous professional development of VimpelCom employees, there is a Corporate University, which conducts trainings, online courses and other methods of personnel training.
In addition, VimpelCom is implementing a program to attract students for specialized internships and training.
Social guarantees: voluntary medical insurance, business mobile communications, discounts on services of third-party operators, social payments.
The Give Hope charity foundation has been operating since 2011. The fund is intended to provide assistance to the holding's personnel who find themselves in difficult life situations (payments for treatment, etc.). Contributions to the Fund are voluntary.
Charity
VimpelCom provides support to many charitable foundations through the provision of mobile communications and the Internet. In addition, to increase the flow of donations, Beeline is developing special mobile services (for more than 80 charitable foundations, including Podari Zhizn, Rusfond, Children's Hearts, Vera).
In 2013, it was launched for users new service- M-charity, which allows subscribers to make monthly donations from their mobile account directly to the Funds.
Main directions of social investment: adaptation of people with disabilities according to rumors, providing support to the Lisa Alert group, which searches for missing people, and volunteering.
Just. Comfortable. For you. (2014-present)
previously:
Live on the Bright Side (2005-2014)
Comfortable with us (2000-2005)
There is only one leader (1995-2000)
"Beeline"(Also: Beeline, until 2005 "Bee Line GSM") is a trademark of VimpelCom Ltd. , under which its subsidiaries provide telecommunications services (primarily mobile communication services) in Russia (Vympel Communications company) and CIS countries). In particular, cellular (GSM, UMTS and LTE) and fixed-line, wired (FTTB) and wireless (Wi-Fi) services are provided under this brand. Beeline WiFi") high-speed Internet access, IP television ("Beeline Home Digital Television" and "Mobile TV").
Brand
At first, the brand’s meaning was interpreted as “bee and line,” but after rebranding the word received a different meaning - “in a straight line.” Specialists from the American Flower Institute participated in the brand renewal. As a result corporate style Beeline became a combination of yellow and black ribbons.
Logo
Beeline changed 4 logos. The current one is the 5th in a row.
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Logo in 1997-2005.
Beeline 2.jpg
Ratings
Until 2011, Beeline was the most valuable brand in Russia according to Interbrand. The Beeline brand is one of two Russian brands (along with MTS) included in the list of the world's 100 largest brands compiled in April 2009 by the British newspaper Financial Times, taking 72nd place in it. In the ranking of European brands (according to the European Brand Institute) in 2009 it took 39th place.
In the spring of 2011, Beeline dropped out of the list of the hundred most expensive brands in the world (according to Millward Brown), losing second place in Russia to Sberbank. The company explained the results by saying that in 2009-2010. The advertising budget and brand promotion costs were significantly reduced.
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Notes
Links
- - Beeline official website
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An excerpt characterizing Beeline
The action is completed. The last role has been played. The actor was ordered to undress and wash off the antimony and rouge: he would no longer be needed.And several years pass in which this man, alone on his island, plays a pathetic comedy in front of himself, petty intrigues and lies, justifying his actions when this justification is no longer needed, and shows the whole world what it was like what people took for strength when an invisible hand guided them.
The manager, having finished the drama and undressed the actor, showed him to us.
- Look what you believed! Here he is! Do you see now that it was not he, but I who moved you?
But, blinded by the power of the movement, people did not understand this for a long time.
The life of Alexander I, the person who stood at the head of the countermovement from east to west, is even more consistent and necessary.
What is needed for that person who, overshadowing others, would stand at the head of this movement from east to west?
What is needed is a sense of justice, participation in European affairs, but distant, not obscured by petty interests; what is needed is a predominance of moral heights over one’s comrades—the sovereigns of that time; a meek and attractive personality is needed; a personal insult against Napoleon is needed. And all this is in Alexander I; all this was prepared by countless so-called accidents of his entire past life: his upbringing, his liberal initiatives, his surrounding advisers, Austerlitz, Tilsit, and Erfurt.
During a people's war, this person is inactive, since he is not needed. But as soon as the need for a common European war arises, this person at that moment appears in his place and, uniting the European peoples, leads them to the goal.
The goal has been achieved. Since the last war of 1815, Alexander is at the height of possible human power. How does he use it?
Alexander I, the pacifier of Europe, a man who from his youth strove only for the good of his people, the first instigator of liberal innovations in his fatherland, now that he seems to have the greatest power and therefore the opportunity to do the good of his people, while Napoleon exile makes childish and deceitful plans about how he would make humanity happy if he had power, Alexander I, having fulfilled his calling and sensing the hand of God on himself, suddenly recognizes the insignificance of this imaginary power, turns away from it, transfers it into the hands of those despised by him and despised people and says only:
- “Not for us, not for us, but for your name!” I am a human being too, just like you; leave me to live as a human being and think about my soul and God.
Just as the sun and each atom of the ether is a ball, complete in itself and at the same time only an atom of a whole inaccessible to man due to the enormity of the whole, so each personality carries within itself its own goals and, at the same time, carries them in order to serve common goals inaccessible to man. .
A bee sitting on a flower stung a child. And the child is afraid of bees and says that the purpose of a bee is to sting people. The poet admires a bee digging into the calyx of a flower and says that the bee’s goal is to absorb the aroma of flowers. The beekeeper, noticing that the bee collects flower dust and brings it to the hive, says that the bee's goal is to collect honey. Another beekeeper, having studied the life of a swarm more closely, says that the bee collects dust to feed young bees and breed the queen, and that its goal is to procreate. The botanist notices that, by flying with the dust of a dioecious flower onto the pistil, the bee fertilizes it, and the botanist sees the bee’s purpose in this. Another, observing the migration of plants, sees that the bee promotes this migration, and this new observer can say that this is the purpose of the bee. But the final goal of the bee is not exhausted by either one, or the other, or the third goal, which the human mind is able to discover. The higher the human mind rises in the discovery of these goals, the more obvious to it is the inaccessibility of the final goal.
Man can only observe the correspondence between the life of a bee and other phenomena of life. The same goes for the goals of historical figures and peoples.
The wedding of Natasha, who married Bezukhov in 13, was the last joyful event in the old Rostov family. That same year, Count Ilya Andreevich died, and, as always happens, with his death the old family fell apart.
Events last year: the fire of Moscow and the flight from it, the death of Prince Andrei and Natasha’s despair, the death of Petya, the grief of the countess - all this, like blow after blow, fell on the head of the old count. He did not seem to understand and felt unable to understand the meaning of all these events and, morally bending his old head, as if he was expecting and asking for new blows that would finish him off. He seemed either frightened and confused, or unnaturally animated and adventurous.
2015
Total service revenue from the provision of services at the end of 2015 decreased by 4% year-on-year, to 67.8 billion rubles as a result of a decrease in service revenue in the fixed segment. At the same time, service revenue in the mobile segment increased slightly year-on-year, reaching RUB 56.5 billion due to a 16% year-on-year increase in mobile data revenue to RUB 12.3 billion, and growth in revenue from interconnection. The growth in revenue from mobile data transmission is explained by the active promotion of package offers and traffic growth. However, this growth is partially offset by decreased revenue from voice services and roaming, due to a decrease in average cost minutes of conversation due to the transition of the Company's existing customers to current tariff plans.
Service revenue in the fixed segment decreased by 21% year-on-year, to RUB 11.3 billion, as a result of a reduction in low-margin traffic, as well as a decrease in revenue in the B2B segment due to slower macroeconomic growth.
Communications infrastructure
Information Technology
Data centers
Experience in optimizing IT infrastructure costs
Approaches to cost optimization Beeline
- Outsourcing criteria: finances and impact on revenue
- Correctly calculate the budget and determine optimization goals (amount of desired savings and risk ratio)
- Outsourcing of work outside the production chain and without direct impact on revenue and profit.
- Monitoring and analysis of resource use
- Estimation of resource costs in terms of CAPEX/OPEX
User equipment
- Development of remote work and BYOD
- Data protection
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Statistics and invoice Outsource IT services
Simplification of IT infrastructure
Simplification of IT infrastructure
Optimizing the IT landscape of user equipment
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Story
2017
More than half of VimpelCom employees began working remotely
After a quarrel with the landlord, Beeline moves to the Bolshevik factory
Telecommunications operator VimpelCom (part of the Veon group, Beeline trademark) has agreed with the investment company O1 Properties to lease office space in the Bolshevik cultural and business complex owned by the group. As stated in the joint message of the parties, the lease agreement is 17 thousand sq. m. m of area will be concluded for seven years. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The Bolshevik complex is located in Moscow on Leningradsky Prospekt. The complex began its history at the end of the 19th century, when the A. Siu and Co. confectionery factory was built on these areas. During Soviet times, the factory was nationalized and renamed Bolshevik.
Preparing for the launch of 5G
VimpelCom will sell 13 thousand towers to Russian Towers
The operator VimpelCom has agreed with the infrastructure company Russian Towers to sell it 13 thousand telecom towers for $700 million. The deal will be completed in the second quarter of 2017.
The tender for the sale of the asset was announced at the end of 2015. The bidding process dragged on because, according to the publication, VimpelCom planned to receive $1 billion for the towers, but the proposals received were about half of this amount, and the cost of the asset was revised. All of the company’s towers will be allocated to the provider’s subsidiary, National Tower Company JSC. By selling the towers, VimpelCom intends to maximize monetary benefits and find new reliable partners.
2016: Tele2 and VimpelCom will combine networks in 27 regions
The partnership between VimpelCom and Tele2 does not extend to Moscow and the region; in addition, it does not include the 450 MHz frequencies owned by Tele2 until it builds a commercial network on them.
The purpose of the agreement is to reduce operating and capital costs of both companies: from now on they will share the costs of maintaining and upgrading the network. How significant the savings might be is not specified in the agreement.
2015: Plan to cut thousands of employees
Telecommunications operator VimpelCom (Beeline trademark) announced a large-scale staff reduction plan. The general director of the operator, Mikhail Slobodin, stated this in an interview with the Rossiya-24 TV channel.
Slobodin did not name the exact number of people who will be subject to layoffs. But, according to him, there will be “tens of percent.” In total, VimpelCom employs 27 thousand employees, that is, several thousand people will remain without work.
Slobodin emphasized that the cuts will not affect people who interact directly with customers: in particular, employees of call centers and mono-brand networks.
Reductions will take place in the management sphere: people who, to one degree or another, participate in decision-making, including at the level of branches and regional departments, will be fired. The number of regional departments will also be reduced.
At the same time, VimpelCom announced that it was uniting a number of its macro-regions: the Volga and Ural macro-regions will be united into the Volga-Ural region (it will have 18 regional branches), and the Siberian and Far Eastern - into the Vostok macro-region (which will unite 15 regions).
2013: Beeline creates a special department for digital communications with clients
VimpelCom is creating a special division for digital communications with clients, the company’s executive vice president for mass market development said in November 2013 Alexander Popovsky .
He explained to TAdviser that the new division will deal with everything related to interaction with customers online, including a self-service system (customer personal accounts) and an online store. In addition, this area includes all contacts with clients via SMS and USSD commands.
Alexander Popovsky explains the need to create such a division by the fact that now digital interaction with clients in the company is fragmented, related tasks are distributed among several departments, while for the client it is one system. The creation of a separate division should provide a holistic approach to this area.
In the near future, the staff of this division will be about 50-60 people, and subsequently it is planned to transfer employees who physically serve clients in in social networks etc., and then the number of staff will be even higher, says Popovsky. It has not yet been determined who will become the head of the new division.
Speaking about the current level of Beeline’s digital interaction with customers, the company’s executive vice president for mass market development notes that in the summer of 2013 the operator launched a new version of its personal account, which fully meets modern requirements in terms of usability and convenience, which is gaining great popularity.
Compared with previous version personal account, the number of users of the new version has increased significantly, he notes. The number of regular users of the system, according to Alexander Popovsky, as of November 2013 is about 2 million.
The Beeline representative also notes that this is beneficial for the operator itself - from the point of view of reducing service costs, and from the point of view of convenience for the client: “for example, there are often some psychological barriers associated with communicating by phone or in a communication salon , in addition, it takes more time, and in your personal account you can easily see what services are connected, where the money is spent, and more,” notes Popovsky.
2010: Vimpelcom Ltd buys out shares of Vimpel Communications
The company operates in all regions of Russia, CIS countries (Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Georgia and Armenia), providing cellular (GSM and UMTS) and fixed-line communications, wired (FTTB) and wireless (Wi-Fi) high-speed access services in Internet, IP television, and corporate services(Beeline Business). It operates in Vietnam and Cambodia.
At this time, VimpelCom Group of Companies divided into three geographical business units - “Russia”, “CIS”, “International Business”. . The Rossiya business unit has been developing since July 1, 2008 as an integrated telecommunications business, including mobile and fixed-line operations.
2009
Acquisition of a 78% stake in the mobile operator Miliccom Lao in Laos for $66 million
On September 17, 2009, VimpelCom announced the acquisition of a 78% stake in the Laotian mobile operator Miliccom Lao. The seller of 74% of the shares was the international investment company Millicom International Cellular (registered in Luxembourg, owned by Swedish investors). Another 4% of shares were purchased from the Dutch offshore Cameroon Holdings (a local partner of Millicom). total amount the transaction amounted to $66 million, the remaining 22% of the shares belonged to the government of the People's Democratic Republic of Laos.
Millicom Lao operates in the GSM 900/1800 standard under the Tigo brand and serves 275 thousand subscribers. According to the Rustelecom agency, the company is the third largest operator in the country with a share of 15%.
In the summer of 2009, Millicom Corporation decided to divest its assets in Southeast Asia. Previously, the Cambodian operator MobiTel was sold (66% of the operator’s shares were bought by Millicom’s local partner, Royal Group, for $346 million), and the sale of the operator Celtel Lanka from Sri Lanka is next in line. For VimpelCom, Laos has become the third country of presence in Southeast Asia: this year the Russian company launched its networks in Vietnam and Cambodia. Thus, VimpelCom has now completely covered the territory of the former colony of France - Indochina.
The EBITDA indicator of the acquired company is $13.6 million, the entire company was valued at $102 million upon purchase - that is, 7.5 EBITDA indicators.
Finally, Bryukvin notes, VimpelCom’s debt now amounts to 250 billion rubles, and it is better for the company to direct funds not to expensive acquisitions, but to debt reduction.
Start of sales of services under the Beeline brand in Cambodia
On May 4, 2009, sales of Beeline officially started (90% of the shares of SOTELCO LTD. were acquired) in Cambodia. Beeline subscribers in Cambodia are about 50 thousand residents of this country. Beeline's first product in Cambodia was the "Boom" tariff plan. This is a unique offer for the local market; the key advantage of the tariff is the low cost of calls to mobile numbers and to other countries. Along with the tariff plan, Cambodian residents received the opportunity to use additional services “Live Zero”, SMS, MMS, GPRS Internet and basic services– conference calling, caller ID, call forwarding. Official website of BeeLine in Cambodia: www.beeline.com.kh.
2008
Start of sales of phones under the Beeline brand
In December 2008, branded 3G economy class phones (manufactured to order by Huawei) were launched. Sales started in the Far Eastern region and will develop as 3G networks develop.
Launch of 3G network in Uzbekistan
Transfer of corporate business under a single brand "Beeline Business"
On September 1, 2008, Beeline launched commercial operation of “third generation” (3G) networks in St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara and Chelyabinsk.
Licenses of the VimpelCom group of companies cover territories with a total population of about 340 million people. According to J"son & Partners, VimpelCom is the world leader in the number of roaming partners and in the number of roaming countries.
56.5 million subscribers
- 56.575 million subscribers:
- Russia - 44.259 million
- Moscow - 8.667 million
- Kazakhstan - 5.438 million
- Ukraine - 2.365 million
- Uzbekistan - 3.015 million
- Tajikistan - 0.496 million
- Armenia - 0.814 million
- Georgia - 0.185 million
- Russia - 44.259 million
Start of provision of communication services in Cambodia
On May 18, 2009, VimpelCom officially announced the start of providing mobile communication services in Cambodia under the Beeline brand through the acquired company Sotelco LTD.
2007
Purchase of 100% shares of the operator Golden Telecom
On December 21, 2007, the purchase by VimpelCom of 100% of the shares of the operator Golden Telecom for $4.3 billion was officially announced.
Termination of services in the D-AMPS standard
On the night of November 16-17, 2007, VimpelCom, due to the expiration of its license, stopped providing services in the D-AMPS standard. All subscribers have been transferred to the GSM standard.
Launch of GSM-1800 services in the Jewish Autonomous Region, Koryak Autonomous Okrug and Magadan Region
Since July 2007 - GSM-1800 in the Jewish Autonomous Region, Koryak Autonomous Okrug and Magadan Region.
Subscriber base in Kazakhstan 4 million people
As of February 7, 2007, KaR-Tel's subscriber base reached 4 million people. Until July 2007, KaR-Tel LLP also provided services under the K-Mobile and Excess brands.
Launch of a 3.5G network in Tajikistan, 100 thousand subscribers in the country
In March 2007, VimpelCom launched a 3.5G network (HSDPA) into commercial operation in Tajikistan.
As of the end of January 2007, the number Beeline subscribers in Tajikistan reached 100 thousand.
901 thousand subscribers in Uzbekistan
By the beginning of February 2007, the Beeline subscriber base in Uzbekistan amounted to 901 thousand subscribers.
2006
Failure to obtain a license in Moldova
In the fall of 2006, the National Regulatory Agency for Telecommunications and Informatics (NARTI) of Moldova announced a competition for the country's third license in the GSM standard. VimpelCom, together with the companies Eventis Mobile and Uniton-Prim, also took part in the competition. The competition took place in two stages. VimpelCom and Eventis Mobile advanced to the second stage of the competition. On December 26, 2006, the winner of the competition was announced. It was the Moldovan-Cypriot company Eventis Mobile. VimpelCom lost the competition. In the explanation for the refusal of the operator’s proposal, it was said that it “poorly takes into account the specifics of the local market.”
Purchase of mobile operator "Armentel" from the Greeks
On November 16, 2006, the transaction was completed to acquire from the Greek telecommunications company Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA 90% of the shares of the cellular and fixed communications operator ArmenTel CJSC (ArmenTel) for €341.9 million. In addition, VimpelCom assumed debt obligations ArmenTel in the amount of €40 million. Subsequently, the remaining 10% of ArmenTel shares were also purchased from the government of Armenia. ArmenTel holds licenses to provide communication services in the GSM-900 and CDMA standards. The company's subscriber base includes 600 thousand landline subscribers and 400 thousand GSM cellular subscribers. In addition, ArmenTel is a monopolist in the Internet access market of Armenia. .
In 2008, the name of the ArmenTel cellular network was changed to Beeline, while the name legal entity remained the same.
Negotiations on the purchase of a mobile operator in Kyrgyzstan
At the end of October 2006, information appeared in the press that VimpelCom was negotiating the purchase of the largest cellular operator in Kyrgyzstan - Sky Mobile. The transaction amount could range from 400 to 500 million dollars. At the same time, Sky Mobile itself in the summer of 2006 received all the assets of the largest cellular operator in Kyrgyzstan at that time - the Bitel company. The progress of the transaction for VimpelCom is complicated by the fact that the right to own Bitel is being disputed by other Russian companies - Rezervspetsmet and MTS.
Sponsorship of pop star Madonna's concert in Moscow
In 2006, VimpelCom became a sponsor of Madonna's concert in Moscow, held on September 12, 2006 at the Moscow Luzhniki Stadium, as part of the world Confessions Tour. VimpelCom has entered into an agreement with Warner Music to use the image of a pop star in its advertising, as well as the exclusive right to sell mobile content singers for a period of five months.
Start of providing services under the Beeline brand in Uzbekistan
On September 12, 2006, the Uzbek Unitel began providing services under the Beeline brand.
Launch of cellular communication services in Tajikistan under the Beeline brand
On September 11, 2006, the Tacom company began providing cellular communication services in Tajikistan under the Beeline brand.
Purchase of 51% shares of mobile operator Mobitel in Georgia
On July 12, 2006, VimpelCom announced the acquisition of a 51% stake in Mobitel, a mobile operator in Georgia, owned by GMC Group, for $12.6 million. VimpelCom also acquired an option from GMC Group to purchase the remaining 49% of the shares. Mobitel then signed a contract with Alcatel to build a new communications network. As part of this project, a new GSM /GPRS/EDGE network will be deployed throughout Georgia, ready for the introduction of third generation (3G) services.
In December 2006, VimpelCom began technical operation Mobitel networks in Georgia. Capacity running network designed for 300 thousand subscribers with the possibility of expansion to 1 million subscribers. On March 15, 2007, the network was launched into commercial operation. At the first stage, VimpelCom services became available in Tbilisi and Rustavi, but by the end of 2007 the company planned to provide coverage in all regional centers, and by the end of 2008, according to the license, it should cover the whole of Georgia.
Launch of the Beeline brand in Ukraine, subscriber base of 2.8 million subscribers
On April 11, 2006, the official launch of the Beeline brand took place, under which VimpelCom began providing mobile communication services in Ukraine. As of August 2007, the subscriber base of the Beeline operator in Ukraine amounted to more than 2.8 million subscribers.
Purchase of 100% of the mobile operator "Buztel" in Uzbekistan
2005
Purchase of 60% shares of the Tajik mobile operator Tacom for $12 million
On December 29, 2005, VimpelCom announced the acquisition of a 60% stake in Tacom LLC, a mobile operator in Tajikistan, for $12 million. "Takom" owns licenses to provide cellular communication services in Tajikistan in the GSM-900/1800, UMTS, CDMA-450 and AMPS standards, as well as services in the field of IP telephony.
Purchase of 100% of Ukrainian Radio Systems for $231 million
On November 11, 2005, VimpelCom signed an agreement to purchase 100% of Ukrainian Radio Systems CJSC. The transaction amount was $231 million. The Norwegian shareholder of VimpelCom, Telenor, did not approve the deal. Telenor planned to enter the Ukrainian market through another cellular operator - Kyivstar, since Telenor owned a controlling stake in this company. The Norwegian side filed several claims about the illegality of the purchase of Ukrainian Radio Systems, but all of them were not satisfied.
Rebranding
On April 4, 2005, a radical rebranding of the company was carried out, which was recognized by experts as extremely successful. The development of the new brand was carried out by the British agency Wolff Olins, which did the design for the album covers of the English music group The Beatles. It is believed that the brand change led to an increase in VimpelCom's income. In 2006, the same agency rebranded the telecommunications companies of AFK Sistema, including the main competitor of VimpelCom, the cellular operator MTS.
2004
Purchase of the second largest mobile operator in Kazakhstan for $425 million from the family of President Nazarbayev
Leadership in launching EDGE technology
In August 2004, Bee Line GSM was the first Russian cellular GSM operator to test and then launch (December) EDGE technology in the Vologda region.
2003: Alexander Izosimov was appointed general director, Joe Lunder - chairman of the board of directors
In October 2003, Alexander Izosimov became the General Director of OJSC VimpelCom. Joe Lunder has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors.
2002: Leadership in launching MMS technology in Russia
In May 2002, Bee Line GSM was launched for the first time in Russia MMS technology.
2001
Russia's first GPRS network
In June 2001, VimpelCom was the first among Russian companies to launch a full-scale GPRS network into pilot commercial operation.
Alfa-Eco is among the shareholders, Joe Lunder replaces Dmitry Zimin at the head of the company
1998: Telenor acquires 25% + 1 share of VimpelCom
In October 1998, the development of the mass market began: the “Bi+” service package was released, designed for the widest range of consumers. For the first time in Moscow, a prepaid payment system using payment cards was offered.
History of the creation and development of the Beeline operatorHistory of Beeline creation
Company<ВымпелКом>organized in September 1992 by Dmitry Zimin with the participation of<КБ Импульс>, Radiotechnical Institute named after. Mints and a number of other enterprises. In June 1992<ВымпелКом>together with American entrepreneur Augie Fabela, they deployed a small pilot AMPS cellular communication system in Moscow with an initial capacity of 200 subscribers. In January 1993 JSC<ВымпелКом>received a license from the Ministry of Communications of the Russian Federation to provide cellular communication services in the AMPS standard in Moscow.
In 1994, a new network with a capacity of 10,000 subscribers was created using Ericsson equipment. Commercial operation of the network began in June 1994 under the brand name<БИ ЛАЙН>. In September 1994, modification of the network to the DAMPS digital standard began using TDMA technology ( cellular network <БИ ЛАЙН 800>). also received licenses to provide cellular communication services in four other regions of the Russian Federation adjacent to Moscow: Tver, Vladimir, Ryazan and Kaluga regions. In total, more than 24 million people live in these territories, or about 16% of the population of the Russian Federation.
In the Samara region in December 1994, JSC<ВымпелКом>, <Меркурий-Самара>(local wireline operator) and Inkombank formed a joint venture<БИ ЛАЙН Самара>, which today is one of the most successful regional cellular operators.
In 1995, on the initiative of JSC<ВымпелКом>was founded<Ассоциация-800>, uniting Russian operators of the AMPS/DAMPS standard. As of July 1, 1998, 22 member operators<Ассоциации-800>received licenses to use the BE LINE trademark.
In November 1996 JSC<ВымпелКом>entered the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), becoming the first Russian company, included in its listing after a 90-year hiatus. Stock<ВымпелКома>in the form of American Depository Receipts (ADR) of the third most top level were placed on the NYSE under the VIP symbol and allowed the company to raise more than $60 million for the development of the network.
During 1995-1997 JSC<КБ Импульс>Together with the Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of Defense, we conducted research to determine the possibility of using the 1800 MHz band for cellular communications. Based on the results of the study, a frequency range of 20 MHz was allocated for the creation and testing of the first GSM-1800 network in Russia. The Ministry of Communications provided<КБ Импульс>appropriate license.
In June 1997, the first GSM-1800 network in Russia was successfully launched -<БИ ЛАЙН 1800>, in the creation of which Alcatel equipment was used. By the end of 1997, this network had a capacity of 120 thousand subscribers, had 160 base stations and provided coverage throughout the entire territory of Moscow. In parallel with the launch of the network<БИ ЛАЙН 1800>modification has been made software switch of the DAMPS system to work in the new digital standard IS-136.
On April 28, 1998, the State Committee for Communications of the Russian Federation summed up the results of the competition for the right to deploy GSM-1800 communication networks on the territory of the Russian Federation.<ВымпелКом>received licenses to use the GSM-1800 standard in the Central and Central Black Earth, Volga, North Caucasus and Siberian regions of Russia. Also, the State Committee for Communications of the Russian Federation confirmed the previously issued<ВымпелКому>license to use this standard in Moscow and the Moscow region.
On August 7, 1998, the Company received an addition to previously issued licenses for the creation of cellular networks in the GSM-1800 standard in the Moscow region, as well as in the Central and Central Black Earth regions of the Russian Federation, which made it possible to move on to the creation of dual-band networks of the GSM-900/1800 standard in the indicated territories. As of September 30, 1998, the number of subscribers<БИ ЛАЙН>reached 141,600 people.
In September 1998, following the results of the competition<Брэнд года>, held under the patronage of the Moscow City Hall, the trademark<БИ ЛАЙН>was recognized as the best in the nomination<Репутация и доверие>.
On October 21, 1998, the company successfully launched the first stage of a dual-band GSM-900/1800 network in Moscow.
In October 1998, the company introduced a package of services in its GSM network<БИ ПЛЮС>, designed for a wide range of consumers with low incomes. With the advent<БИ ПЛЮС>The company's subscribers were the first in the capital to be able to use the worldwide popular form of payment for cellular services using debit cards(prepaid). Similar service for network subscribers<БИ ЛАЙН 800>(DAMPS) was introduced on January 25, 1999.
December 1, 1998<ВымпелКом>and the Norwegian telecommunications concern Telenor signed an investment agreement unprecedented for the Russian communications market. Telenor acquired 25% plus one voting share of JSC for $162 million<ВымпелКом>, becoming a major shareholder and strategic partner of the company.
In December 1998<ВымпелКом>significantly expanded the coverage area, the number of base stations in networks<БИ ЛАЙН>exceeded 500. Since December, the company also began providing its subscribers with networks<БИ ЛАЙН GSM>national automatic roaming services. On December 22, 1998, the first agreement came into force with the Krasnodar operator<Кубань-GSM>.
In February 1999, by agreement with the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation<ВымпелКом>began servicing subscribers on the territory of a country residence<Русь>President of the Russian Federation in Zavidovo, where two base stations of the DAMPS and GSM-900/1800 standards were installed. Thus, the company has once again confirmed its status as a provider of communication services of the highest quality.
March 24, 1999 JSC<ВымпелКом>and JSC<КБ Импульс>became members of the Association of GSM Operators, which unites companies operating in the GSM-900 and GSM-1800 standards in Russia and a number of CIS countries.
July 5, 1999<ВымпелКом>made a breakthrough in the field of cellular communication technologies, being the first in Russia to launch commercial operation of the dual-band GSM-900/1800 network. In July, the total number of countries where users<БИ ЛАЙН GSM>roaming service became available, reaching 50. Network subscribers were able to use their Moscow number in almost all regions of the world, including Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
September 15, 1999 online<БИ ЛАЙН GSM>a per-second call payment system was introduced, which allowed subscribers to save about 20% of their monthly payment amount. October 18<ВымпелКом>announced the beginning of a new era in the cellular communications market - the era of the mass telephone. For the first time in the history of cellular communications in Russia, the price of a mobile phone was $49, including taxes. For this price buyers could get Philips phone Aeon in a box and a $10 card. In accordance with issued licenses<ВымпелКом>started the first stage of operation in November 1999 GSM networks in the Central and Central Black Earth, Volga, Siberian and North Caucasus regions of Russia. Fragments of networks were deployed in the Voronezh, Tver, Samara, Rostov and Novosibirsk regions.
In December 1999<ВымпелКом>was named the winner in the category<Лучшая сервисная компания 1999 года>based on the results of the first annual national competition<Компания года>. As part of the competition<ВымпелКом>was also awarded<Приза симпатий деловой прессы>. The organizers of the competition interviewed more than 150 top managers and experts from 52 consulting, marketing, investment companies and banks. At the end of December, the company recorded an absolute record, connecting more than 75 thousand new users. Two out of every three phone buyers on the Moscow market in November and December preferred<БИ ЛАЙН>.
Based on the results of 1999<ВымпелКом>became the leader of Moscow cellular market, serving 352 thousand subscribers and having a market share of 47%. The number of subscribers increased by 184% over the year. In the fourth quarter of 1999 alone, more than 170 thousand subscribers were connected. In January 2000<ВымпелКом>and Nokia signed an agreement to supply GPRS (Global Package Radio System) equipment for the network<БИ ЛАЙН GSM>in the Moscow and Central regions of the Russian Federation.<ВымпелКом>became the first company in Russia to begin introducing high-speed Internet access technologies from a mobile phone.
In March 2000<ВымпелКом>and company<Эрикссон>signed an agreement for the supply and installation of a WAP system on the network<БИ ЛАЙН GSM>. On May 10, the WAP service was launched into trial commercial operation. Using a mobile phone to subscribers<БИ ЛАЙН GSM>news, weather information, exchange rates, flight schedules and other services became available.
In May 2000<ВымпелКом>announced a significant expansion of the network<БИ ЛАЙН GSM>in the Moscow region, covering 99% of all residents of the Moscow region with a service area. The number of installed GSM base stations in May reached 600. The capabilities of Bee Line GSM subscribers traveling outside the Moscow region have expanded: communication has become available in 200 cities of Russia and 75 countries around the world. The contribution of VimpelCom JSC, as one of the largest Russian taxpayers to the Russian budget at the end of 1999, was awarded the Federal Prize "Conscientious Taxpayer". The prize, as well as a special certificate for “personal contribution to legislative activities in the field of taxation,” were presented to the company’s general director Dmitry Zimin on May 23 by the Minister of Taxes and Duties Gennady Bukaev.
May 24, 2000<ВымпелКом>announced the launch of the BE LINE GSM network into commercial operation in Voronezh. A subsidiary company began providing communication services in Voronezh<ВымпелКома>- JSC<Центр Сотовой связи>.
June 20, 2000<ВымпелКом>announced a significant increase in the subscriber base in the networks<БИ ЛАЙН>, amounting to 573,700 people.
June 29, 2000<ВымпелКом>introduced new project <БиОнЛайн - Портал>, which was initiated to provide network subscribers<БИ ЛАЙН>various information, reference, entertainment and business services using the most modern mobile communication technologies, such as SMS, WAP, GPRS. The project was launched into commercial operation on December 15, 2000.
At the end of July 2000<ВымпелКом>announced the implementation of the largest investment project in its history: the company placed securities in the amount of $225.4 million in the form of obligations and American depositary receipts of the third level.
Unique package of services<Супер GSM>, which allowed subscribers to talk for $195 a month without airtime restrictions, was offered to Bee Line subscribers in August 2000. In addition to unlimited traffic, customers were also offered discounts of up to 20-30% on long-distance and international communications and personal subscriber service.
In September 2000, high quality service on the network<БИ ЛАЙН>was confirmed by the results of an independent examination. From September 7 to 8, 2000, the Society of Mobile Communications Consumers held a unique Promotion<Би Лайн против МТС. Абонентские Службы>. The purpose of the action was to test the efficiency and quality of subscriber service of three cellular operators (MCS, MTS, Bee Line). As a result, having scored the second place in terms of dialing time and the first place in the quality of answers, the overall victory was won by<БИ ЛАЙН>.
Trademark<БИ ЛАЙН GSM>received first place in the category<Эффективный вклад в долгосрочную стратегию>, in category<Высокотехнологичные товары и услуги>at the competition<Брэнд года>, the results of which were summed up in November 2000.
In December 2000, the beginning was made of the creation of the largest retail network for the sale of mobile phones in the capital. JSC<ВымпелКом>announced the acquisition of a network of communication stores<Мобайл-Центр>.
For the New Year 2001<ВымпелКом>has prepared a unique offer for its clients. From December 10, 2000 for network subscribers<БИ ЛАЙН GSM>using<кредитные>tariff plans, fees for incoming calls from phones of users of other cellular networks were canceled.
2001 became a key year in the development of the Company.<ВымпелКом>returned to profitability, completed the transformation into a GSM operator, became the absolute leader in connecting new subscribers in Moscow, and also began active regional expansion in partnership with<Теленор>And<Альфа-Групп>. This year, the Company also seriously strengthened its position in the field of customer service, expanded its sales network, introduced new convenient forms of payment for services, and finally became an absolute leader in introducing new services and technologies.
During the first quarter of 2001<ВымпелКом>achieved significant improvements in operating revenue and EBITDA. The company returned to profitability with net income of $5.1 million.
Since March 2001, telephones<Би Лайн>started working in the capital's metro. A fragment of the network started operating at the Tagansky metro hub (Taganskaya Circle, Taganskaya Radial and Marksistskaya stations). In the same month OJSC<ВымпелКом>and JSC<Комбелга>jointly launch the Fixed-Mobile Convergence service, which combines the advantages of mobile and fixed telecommunications, allowing the connection of fixed lines installed by the company<Комбелга>with mobile phones<Би Лайн>.
In April, the company held a unique promotion called Test Drive of the Bee Line GSM network, which was designed for potential clients, analysts and journalists. Representatives of more than 100 companies and media editorial offices took part in the test drive. The participants of the campaign, who received telephones with Moscow numbers and about 300 minutes of airtime, tested the company’s service area in more than 15 districts of the Moscow region and in the regions adjacent to the region, eight cities of Russia and 15 countries around the world. Approximately 86% of test drive participants surveyed generally expressed positive feedback about the quality of communication and the network’s service area<Би Лайн GSM>.
May 30, 2001. Company<Альфа-Эко Телеком Лимитед>, part of a consortium of Russian companies<Альфа групп>, became one of the shareholders of JSC<ВымпелКом>. This deal made it possible to attract<ВымпелКома>up to $337 million in investments and opened a new stage in the company’s development.
In June, the provision of services based on SIM Application Toolkit technology began. A special SIM card with increased memory capacity up to 32 Kb and applications recorded on it allows subscribers<Би Лайн GSM>use an additional phone menu item that simplifies access to network information resources.
June 21, 2001<ВымпелКом>was the first among Russian companies to launch a full-scale GPRS network into pilot commercial operation. For network subscribers<Би Лайн GSM>high-speed services became available wireless access to the Internet, Intranet and WAP resources based on packet data transfer. In March 2002 GPRS technology from<Би Лайн>was named Product of the Year by PC Magazine.
July 5, 2001 network<Би Лайн GSM>celebrated the second anniversary of the start of its work. Over the past time, the number of base stations has tripled, and the number of subscribers has grown more than 30 times.
In July 2001<ВымпелКом>signed an agreement with the company<Амдокс>, one of the world's largest providers of billing and management systems subscriber service for the telecommunications and IP industry on the implementation of a billing system and subscriber service management system for GSM and GPRS networks.
On September 4, 2001, a branch was opened in Tver, which kicked off the intensive regional development of the company. By the end of 2001, representative offices<ВымпелКома>also opened in Vladimir, Ryazan, Lipetsk, Tula, Yaroslavl and Smolensk.
In September, subscribers<Би Лайн GSM>entertaining WAP services that were implemented jointly with the company become available<Никита>, one of the leading Russian developers of gaming applications.
In December 2001<ВымпелКом>launched a pilot zone of the third generation UMTS network.
October 30<ВымпелКом>introduced a new universal bill payment system - Beepay. Beepay is the ability to choose where, when and how to pay for communication services: in cash or using a bank card, day or night, on weekdays or weekends, in the subway or in a store. The new system has significantly simplified the process of paying for cellular services<Би Лайн>, making it as convenient, simple and fast as possible. The company's partners in this project were its dealers,<Банк Первое ОВК>, chain of stores<Седьмой континент>.
At the end of 2001, net revenue<ВымпелКома>amounted to $422.6 million, an increase of 54.2% compared to last year, and net profit reached $47.3 million. As of December 31, 2001, the subscriber base<ВымпелКома>had about 2.11 million users, an increase of 153.3% over the year.
Based on the results of 2001<Би Лайн>was the leader in the number of subscribers in Moscow and the Moscow region and almost quadrupled the subscriber base in the regions, deploying a network in trial or commercial operation on the territory of 50 constituent entities of the Russian Federation.
In January 2002, branches<Вымпелком-Р>opened in seven new regions of Russia at once. Networks<Би Лайн GSM>began connecting and servicing subscribers in Novosibirsk, Kemerovo, Barnaul, Novokuznetsk, Saratov, Rostov-on-Don and Nizhny Novgorod.
Company<ВымпелКом>introduced a new product to the market in March<Электронный справочник beeinfo>, which allowed subscribers to use a wide range of useful services using SIM Application Toolkit technology.
March 25, 2002<Би Лайн GSM>following your positioning strategy<С нами удобно>, introduces uniform tariffs for intranet roaming. These tariffs, which are valid throughout almost the entire service territory unified network <Би Лайн GSM>, is distinguished by simplicity, accessibility and convenience.
On April 1, 2002, the company confirmed its innovative leadership in Russian market cellular communications, launching commercial services based on GPRS wireless packet data transmission technology.
May 13, 2002 as part of the exhibition<Связь-Экспоком - 2002>OJSC<ВымпелКом>was the first of the Russian cellular operators to demonstrate and launch a test network MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service), which allows you to send and receive pictures and photos, audio and video files from one phone to another, as well as to email addresses.
In May 2002, the beeoffice company's electronic customer service system was the first in Russia to be certified for compliance with the principles and criteria of information security of the company's SysTrust<Эрнст & Янг>.
Two largest Russian mobile operators of Russia OJSC<ВымпелКом>and OJSC<МТС>launched on May 22, 2002 a service for exchanging short text messages (SMS) for subscribers of their Moscow networks. From this day on, subscribers of Moscow networks<Би Лайн GSM>and MTS can freely exchange SMS messages from any phones that support this service. The corresponding agreement was signed by the heads of the two companies. Previously, a similar agreement on SMS exchange was signed with the company<Мегафон>.
Per-second payment for calls, starting from the first minute, became available to subscribers<Би Лайн GSM>Moscow region since July 15, 2002.<ВымпелКом>became the first GSM operator Moscow region, which offered subscribers the most convenient and fair principle for tariffication of calls. New tariff plan<Классика GSM>ensured the accuracy of calculations and the ability to optimize your costs for cellular communications.
In July 2002 the company<ВымпелКом>gained access to the cellular communications market of the Ural enlarged region, having completed a transaction to acquire a controlling stake in the leading Orenburg operator JSC<Оренсот>.
In September 2002 the company<ВымпелКом>marked a year since the beginning of active regional expansion. During this time, fragments of a single network<Би Лайн GSM>were put into commercial operation in 26 regions of Russia, and the number of regional subscribers increased to 600,000.
