VimpelCom introduces network virtualization across five markets

Amsterdam (February 23, 2016) - VimpelCom Ltd. (NASDAQ: VIP), the international communications and technology company that is committed to bringing the digital world to each and every customer, today announces plans to build a complete virtual network infrastructure providing 4G, 3G and 2G mobile data services to customers across five markets in 2016. VimpelCom has engaged ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), an international provider of telecommunications technology solutions, to build the new network environment.

ZTE’s virtual Evolved Packet Core (vEPC) network will be introduced in Kyrgyzstan and Laos in February 2016. Following these two markets, VimpelCom plans to introduce the fully virtualized network in Uzbekistan, Armenia, and Tajikistan during the course of 2016. With virtualization, the networks in the five VimpelCom markets will move from a legacy-heavy network made up of separate network elements to a common software-driven, lean infrastructure.

Yogesh Malik, Group Chief Technology Officer at VimpelCom said: ”VimpelCom believes in instant innovation. Investing in innovative solutions to reinvent our network is high on the agenda as we transform into the digital operator of the future. We are convinced that virtualization represents the new way forward for the industry. The reinvention of the current network to one that is software-driven and asset-light plays an important part in our digital transformation and is a leap forward in bringing the digital world to each and every customer as they navigate their digital lives.”

Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) in the core network enables a more effective resource utilization and flexible maintenance for operators, and allows more flexibility in new network functions and product introductions, resulting in a seamless experience for our customers.

About VEON
VEON is a NASDAQ and Euronext Amsterdam-listed global provider of connectivity and internet services, with the ambition to lead the personal internet revolution for over 235 million customers it currently serves, and many others in the years to come.

Follow us on Twitter @veondigital, visit our blog blog.veon.com or go to our website www.veon.com.

Disclaimer
VEON considers portions of this press release to contain "forward-looking statements", as the phrase is defined in Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "plan", "should", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "continue" or comparable terminology and include statements relating to, among other things, the development of VEON’s compliance function. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which VEON cannot predict with accuracy and some of which VEON might not even anticipate. Although VEON believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions at the time made, it can give no assurance that such expectations will be achieved. Future events and actual results, financial and otherwise, may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of the date of this release. VEON does not undertake to publicly update, except as required by U.S. federal securities laws, any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after such dates or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Furthermore, elements of this release contain, or may contain, "inside information" as defined under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014.

Contact Information