| Type | Public (NYSE: VIP) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mobile telecommunications |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Moscow, Russia |
| Key people | Elena Shmatova, CEO (2010) |
| Products | Mobile networks, Internet, IPTV |
| Revenue | $7.17 billion USD (2007)[1] |
| Operating income | $2.21 billion USD (2007)[1] |
| Net income | $1.46 billion USD (2007)[1] |
| Divisions | Golden Telecom (Sovintel) — since 2008 |
| Website | http://BeeLine.ru |
Beeline (Russian: Билайн) is the trademark of the third largest[2] Russian telecommunication operator, VimpelCom (Russian: ВымпелКом). Its headquarters is located in Moscow.[3] Beeline's brand was designed by Wolff Olins as a re-brand for their old corporate identity, assisted by Marina Willerr.
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As of January 2005, Beeline has more than 25 million subscribers in 74 of the 89 Russian regions and in Kazakhstan, and is 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 than competitor Mobile TeleSystems's figures, while being gradually improving in latest years.
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.[4]
VimpelCom was founded in 1992 and initially operated AMPS/D-AMPS network in Moscow area. In 1996[5] became the first Russian company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: VIP).[6]
In 1997 the company began GSM network roll-out. In 2001 it started GSM networks throughout Russia's regions, having gradually increased its regional presence to the majority of Russia's territory.
In 2004, VimpelCom, in its first move outside Russia's territory, acquired Kazakhstani cellular operator KaR-Tel (brand names K-Mobile and Excess).[7]
In 2004, VimpelCom CEO Alexander Izosimov, formerly a top Mars, Incorporated executive, was named the best Russian manager by the Managers Association of Russia.[8]
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.[9] Telenor is appealing a $1.7 billion court ruling against it.
In May 2010, Vimpelcom merged with Kyivstar to form the largest operator group in Russia and CIS countries. The new company Vimpelcom Ltd will be noted in New York.
On 17 March, the shareholders of VimpelCom voted in support of a $6 billion deal to acquire WIND Telecom, whose assets include Orascom Telecom, a significant shareholder in WIND Mobile. The parties are now moving to close the deal, likely sometime in the first half of 2011. This transaction would create the world’s fifth largest mobile operator by subscribers - more than 173 million subscribers.[10]
VimpelCom's main competitors are Mobile TeleSystems and MegaFon.[11]
One of the internationally known shareholders of Vimpelcom is Telenor, Norwegian telecom conglomerate.[12]
In October 2010, VimpelCom Ltd and Weather Investments (led by Naguib Sawiris), declared their plans "to form what would become the world's fifth largest mobile telecommunication service provider in a deal valued at over $6.5 billion".[13]
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. [9]
Following the acquisition by VimpelCom, all of the company's services have been rebranded as Beeline', similar to a VimpelCom's major mobile assets in Russia.
On 16 November 2006, VimpelCom acquired the 90% share of ArmenTel CJSC held by the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA (OTE) for €341.9 million. VimpelCom also took on ArmenTel's debts of €40 million. The remaining 10% share of the company is held by the Armenian government. In 2008, ArmenTel's commercial services were rebranded as Beeline, bringing it into line with VimpelCom's existing networks in other countries.
In July 2009, VimpelCom co-operated with a Vietnamese telecommunication company, GTel Telecommunications to open a new mobile phone network in Vietnam, named Beeline Vietnam.
In 2011, Beeline entered Laos replacing former Tigo. Numbers on Beeline Laos is 020-7xxx-xxxx.
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