Shyam Telelink brings globally renowned brand MTS to India

Shyam Telelink Limited today announced a strategic tie-up to provide mobile services under the branding of Russian operator Mobile TeleSystems OJSC, MTS, in India. Shyam Telelink Limited (STL) is a joint venture between Sistema of Russia and India's Shyam Group. MTS is the largest mobile phone operator in Russia and the CIS countries.

Under the terms of the agreement, Shyam Telelink will have the right to use the MTS brand in all its marketing communications and advertising in India. STL's decision to introduce the MTS brand in India is in line with the company's vision to introduce world-class services and offerings in the Indian market and to pursue global standards in India.

''At STL, our endeavour is to provide world class affordable mobile services to the customers'', said Vsevolod Rozanov, CEO, Shyam Telelink Limited. ''Coming to market with a fully developed and globally recognised brand will give us a clear competitive advantage in the marketplace. The MTS brand offers Shyam Telelink a valuable portfolio of marketing guidelines that will provide time and cost advantages. The universality of MTS' brand values and the simplicity of its design will resonate well among potential customers in India, and we are confident that the brand will aid in the expansion of our business.''

Cynthia Gordon, global brand chief of MTS said, ''We are excited about the opportunity to extend our brand values to one of the most populous countries and most dynamic mobile growth markets in the world.''  ''We are confident that the MTS brand will translate well to the Indian market, and its introduction will bring tangible benefits to MTS and raise the overall value of its brand.''

The agreement is limited to using the MTS brand to India and there is no participation in Shyam TeleLink's operations or launching MTS products or services in India. The terms also stipulate that MTS will act as the brand guardian to insure brand usage and marketing communications adhere to the MTS brand guidelines.

In April 2008, MTS brand was recognized as one of the Brandz Top 100 Most Powerful Brands, a ranking published by the Financial Times and Millward Brown, a leading global market research and consulting firm.