Vimpel-Communications (VimpelCom) is a provider of telecommunications services in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The VimpelCom group of companies consists of telecommunications operators providing voice and data services through a range of mobile, fixed and broadband technologies. The Group includes companies operating in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia, Armenia, as well as Vietnam and Cambodia. As of September 30, 2008, VimpelCom’s total number of active subscribers in Russia and the CIS was 57.8 million. On February 29, 2008, VimpelCom completed a merger with Golden Telecom, a provider of integrated telecommunications and Internet services in Russia and the CIS. In July 2008, VimpelCom signed a joint venture agreement to launch a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network in Vietnam and acquired a 90% stake in Sotelco.