OREANDA-NEWS. Southern Telecommunications Company (“UTK”) (RTS: KUBN, KUBNP; MICEX: UTEL, UTELP; ADR OTC: STJSY, KUE FRA), the principal fixed-line telecommunications provider for Russia’s Southern Federal District, today announced its development forecast and financial strategy for 2007-2009.

The Board of Directors of "UTK" PJSC approved the Company’s development forecast and financial strategy for 2007-2009 at the session.

Due to liberalization of the long-distance services market the Company’s revenue and telecom revenue are expected to decrease in 2006, but the Company believes that by the end of 2009 these parameters will demonstrate a stable growth.

Total revenue is expected to increase by 16.7% from 18,440.1 million rubles in 2007 to 21,514.8 million rubles in 2009. 

In 2006 the Company expects to generate telecom revenue of 15,903.4 million rubles supported by adding 43.6 thousand new subscribers to the Company’s subscriber base.