Combellga (merged with Golden Telecom)

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Combellga, the third largest alternative telecommunications operator in Russia was founded in March 1991 to provide international service in Moscow and St. Petersburg becoming one of the first firms to start its commercial operations in Moscow (August 1992). The company started its operations in St. Petersburg in 1993. Combellga was formed as a joint venture among Alcatel Bell, the Belgian Subsidiary of the French state-owned telecommunications giant, (15.5%), the Belgian state operator Belgacom NV (15.5%), and Comincom, a Russian State company (69%) by 1998. The system used Alcatel System in its 12 public switch and 12 private switching stations around the city to relay calls to Brussels, from where they are routed to their final destination. The company declined to comment on details and investment figures because they were considered confidential. In 2000, Telenor acquired a 75% controlling stake in Komincom/Combellga for US$ 120 million. Komincom intended to invest US$ 116 million in the development of Combellga. In June 2003 Telenor acquired additional 25% for US$30. In August 2003 Golden Telecom acquired 100% in Combellga from Telenor in exchange for 19.5% of Golden Telecom shares. In 2002 Kominkom-Combellga network had 40,000 lines servicing over 100,000 subscribers in 22 Russian regions. By the end of the year, the Company planned to launch an exchange with 15,000 new lines in Moscow, 10,000 lines in St. Petersburg, 5,000 lines in Voronezh, and 2,000 lines in Samara, as well as several telephone exchanges of 1,000 lines in several Russian towns and cities. Combellga planned to invest US$22 million of its own money in its telecommunications network in Russia in 2003.