DUSHANBE, June 5, Asia-Plus -- The VimpelCom Group, which operates under the Beeline brand, has introduced new service to its clients in Tajikistan – “Letnyaya Noch” (Summer Night).

Press service of the limited liability company Tacom, Tajik cellular operator, says that under this service, from 01:00 a.m. to 06:00 a.m. outgoing calls will be paid at preferential rates - $0.01 per minute.  The service has been effective since June 1 and lasts through August.

Besides, under the “Letnyaya Noch” service, the Beeline clients may call to Russia at the rate of $0.007 per minute.   

“The price of outgoing calls to other cellular operators across Tajikistan remains the same,” the source said.   

We will recall that on December 27, 2005, VimpelCom (Vimpel-Communications) announced the purchase of a 60% stake in Tajik cellular operator “Tacom” for $12 million. 

Tacom is licensed to provide cellular communication services in Tajikistan in the GSM-900/1800, UMTS, CDMA-450, and AMPS standards.

As a result of the deal, VimpelCom became a party to the shareholding agreement with shareholders in Tacom, who hold the remaining 40 percent of shares.  The deal gives to VimpelCom the primary right to buy out remaining shares and increase its stake to 100%.

The VimpelCom Group includes cellular companies operating in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and recently acquired companies in Georgia and Armenia. The Company operates under the ''Beeline'' brand.  The VimpelCom Group’s cellular license portfolio covers 78 regions of Russia and the entire territories of Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia and Armenia.