FORM 6-K

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Report of Foreign Issuer

November 19, 2004

 

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Commission file number: 333-12032

 

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Russian Federation

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

4, Marksistskaya Street

Moscow 109147

Russian Federation

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

                Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

Form 20-F ý Form 40-F o

 

                Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Yes o No ý

 

 

 

MTS BUYS MOBILE COMPANY IN THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST

 

Moscow, Russian Federation — November 19, 2004 — Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (“MTS” - NYSE: MBT), the largest mobile phone operator in Russia and the CIS, announces that it has won a government privatization tender for GSM mobile phone operator, Gorizont RT, working in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in the Far East of Russia.

 

Today the Property Ministry of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) held an open auction for the government’s 76% stake in local mobile phone operator Gorizont RT. MTS won the auction with a bid of approximately $52.2 million. The sales and purchase agreement is expected to be signed shortly.

 

Gorizont RT is the sole mobile services provider in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), a region in the Russian Far East with a population of 949.3 thousand. The company provides services to 100 thousand subscribers. Mobile penetration in the region is at 10.5%, substantially lower than Russia’s average penetration of 42.5%

 

According to the Russian Accounting Standards (RAS), Gorizont RT’s revenues for the first six months of 2004 totaled $11.6 million and net income $2.5 million. The company’s average monthly revenue per user (ARPU) was $20 in H1 2004. As of June 30, 2004, its net debt was $2.5 million.

 

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For further information contact:

 

 

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Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (“MTS”) is the largest mobile phone operator in Russia and the CIS. Together with its subsidiaries, the Company services over 27.8 million subscribers. The regions of Russia, as well as Belarus, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, in which MTS and its subsidiaries are licensed to provide GSM services, have a total population of approximately 225.8 million. Since June 2000, MTS’ Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange with the ticker symbol MBT. Additional information about MTS can be found on MTS’ website at www.mtsgsm.com.

 

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Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of MTS, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward looking statements by terms such as “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “will,” “could,” “may” or “might,” and the negative of such terms or other similar expressions.  We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not intend to update these statements to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. We refer you to the documents MTS files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the Company’s most recent Form 20-F/A. These documents contain and identify important factors, including those contained in the section captioned “Risk Factors” that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, our competitive environment, dependence on new service development and tariff structures, rapid technological and market change, acquisition strategy, risks associated with telecommunications infrastructure, risks associated with operating in Russia, volatility of stock price, financial risk management and future growth subject to risks.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

                Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

	MOBILE TELESYSTEMS OJSC
	By:	Vassily Sidorov
		Name:	Vassily Sidorov
		Title:	President/CEO
Date:  November 19, 2004

 

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