The Technology Torch Burns in Azerbaijan!

Baku, September 23, 2008

Azercell announces today that the Annual Inter-Working Roaming Expert Group (IREG) meeting will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan; with the attendance of more than 120 roaming experts from all around the world.

Azercell conducted a press meeting today in order to announce the visit of roaming technology experts to an international meeting with the hosting of Azercell. The Annual IREG Meeting to be organized by GSM Association will be held on October 27 – 30, 2008 in Hyatt Regency Hotel and more than 120 experts from all around the world will be visiting Baku, to join the event.

The meeting in Baku will be the 55th meeting of IREG, where last year was conducted in Prague in Czech Republic. IREG specifies technical, operational and performance issues supporting international roaming, taking into account 3G GSM evolutions. IREG focuses on the study, from a compatibility and interoperability perspective, of the signaling and inter-working of roaming issues between networks; PLMNs (Public Land Mobile Networks), PSTNs (Public Switched Telephone Networks), ISDNs (Integrated Services Digital Networks) and PPDNs (Public Packet Switched Data Networks), defining guidelines and test procedures for voice and data services.

The delegates from 55 countries of the world will arrive Baku on 27th of October and join the meetings, technical discussions and workshops where the following topics are to be discussed Protecting against Security and Fraud in SS7 based Networks, Roaming Database Electronic Exchange - IR.21, Steering of Roaming and 3GPP Network selection techniques, NGMN-GSMA Status of co-operation agreement, IP Interworking Alliance (IPIA) Update and SS7 Network planning as announced by Azercell at the press meeting.

Ali Agan, Deputy-CEO of Azercell, speaking at the press conference recorded;: “Beyond the importance of GSM technologies aspects of this meeting, there is a very significant angle that our country is accepted and recognized within the global arena where having a highly technological and innovative environment. Azercell is proud to pioneer this recognition with bringing the latest technologies to Azerbaijan, to our subscribers. Azerbaijan is one of the leading technology provider countries in the Caucasus and Eurasia. Preference of holding such a meeting in Azerbaijan shows the world that Azerbaijan is ready for all global innovations. According to the World Bank’s Doing Business Report, Azerbaijan is the top reformer in the world and is recognized as a leader country by its GDP growth pace throughout last several years. Currently, the decision to hold such an event in Azerbaijan indicates the role played by Azerbaijan in world economy. We as Azercell are very proud to have our share of work in bettering the image of Azerbaijan”.

Ali Agan also underlining that this is a very good opportunity to present our hospitality and the given importance of local traditional values; besides the modern face of Azerbaijan said; “We as Azercell welcome our guests to our country where they will experience the unique cultural heritance and meet with an environment to gladly accommodate the future of GSM technologies.”

Azercell Telecom with its 3,5 millions subscribers is the largest mobile operator offering the highest quality communications services in the country. Founded in 1996 and functioning since the same year, Azercell has invested nearly USD 1 billion in Azerbaijan.