Parma Mobile (merged with Tele2)

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Parma Mobile was founded in October 1995 to provide mobile telecommunications services within the territory of the Republic of Komi with a population over 1 million. The company received its license to operate an AMPS cellular network in December 1995. The company was created as a joint venture between regional operator in Komi (Komisvyazinform) and Vostok Mobile, a subsidiary of Global Telesystem Group. Parma Mobile provided mobile phone service in Ukhta and Skytyvkar and had 500 subscribers by 1997. Lucent Technologes delivered the equipment. In January 2001 Vostok Mobile B.V was acquired by MCT Corp which controls 75% in Parma mobile. Parma Mobile provides services under the brand name INDIGO which was introduced in May 2001 by MCT Corp. and unites 13 operators in Russia and CIS. Parma Mobile expected to launch a GSM network in Komi Republic in the second quarter of 2004. Huawei Technologies supplied the equipment. At the end of October, 2005 Parma Mobile subscriber base had risen to 70,000 users, an increase from 50,000 in September. Tele2 acquired 100% of Parma Mobile in July 2006 as part of a deal for the acquisition of four north-western operators that offered services under the "Indigo" brand. The other operators acquired were Arkhangelsk Mobile Networks, Novgorod Telecommunications, and Murmansk Mobile Network. Limited information on the subscribers and investment. http://www.parmamobile.ru/ http://www.indigokomi.ru/ (both pages were not accessible) 2005 connections are as of September 2005.