Beeline (brand)

Telecommunications brand initially introduced in 1993 in Russia

Beeline/Билайн

Product type| Mobile telephony, mobile phones retailing, international telephony, broadband Internet, IPTV, city-wide Wi-Fi, domain name registrar and others
Owner| PJSC VimpelCom/Veon
Country| Russia
Introduced| 1993; 31 years ago (1993)
Related brands| Bee+, Golden Telecom, Corbina
Markets| Russia,  CIS, Eurasia
Tagline| "30 years on your side" (2022-2023)
"On your side"
Website| beeline.ru

Beeline (Russian: Билайн), formerly Bee Line GSM (Russian: Би Лайн GSM) is a telecommunications brand by company PJSC VimpelCom, founded in Russia.

PJSC VimpelCom is Russia's third-largest wireless[1] and second-largest telecommunications operator.[2][3] Its headquarters is located in Moscow.[4] Since 2009, PJSC VimpelCom has been a subsidiary of VimpelCom Ltd., which has become Veon in 2017. It is based in Amsterdam. VimpelCom's main competitors in Russia are Mobile TeleSystems, MegaFon and Tele2.[5]

The commercial service was launched under the Beeline brand, a brand developed by Fabela in late 1993 to differentiate the company as a youthful and fun company, rather than a technical company. The name comes from the English term "beeline", meaning the most direct way between two points.

VimpelCom relaunched Beeline with the current characteristic black-and-yellow striped circle in 2005 with a campaign to associate the brand with the principles of brightness, friendliness, effectiveness, simplicity, and positive emotions; with a new slogan "Живи на яркой стороне" (Live on the bright side). The rebranding campaign was hugely successful and the principles associated with the brand "captured hearts and minds", in the words of the company.[6]

## History in Russia[edit]

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (February 2017)

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Dmitry Zimin, the founder and honorary president Branded street retail A Beeline shop in Moscow

OJSC VimpelCom was founded in 1992 and initially operated AMPS/D-AMPS network in Moscow area. In 1996 it became a Extel GSM the first Russian company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: VIP).[7][8]

In November 2005 OJSC VimpelCom stepped further with foreign acquisitions by acquiring 100% of Ukrainian RadioSystems, a marginal Ukrainian GSM operator operating under the Wellcom and Mobi brands. The deal has been surrounded by a controversy involving two major shareholders of VimpelCom: the Russian Alfa Group and Telenor, the incumbent Norwegian telecommunications company.[9]

The company's current (as of July 2008) license portfolio covers a territory where 97% of Russia's population resides, as well as 100% of the territory of Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia, and Armenia.[10] VimpelCom also has a 49.9% stake in Euroset, the largest mobile retailer in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).[11] In May 2010 VimpelCom merged with Kyivstar to form VimpelCom Ltd., the largest telecom operator group in the CIS. Alexander Izosimov, CEO of OJSC VimpelCom, was appointed president.

## Outside Russia[edit]

### Armenia[edit]

Main article: Telecom Armenia

On 16 November 2006, PJSC VimpelCom acquired the 90% share in Armentel CJSC held by the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA (OTE) for €341.9 million.

### Australia[edit]

In November 2018 it was observed that Beeline owns a range of 1000 numbers with the +61 country code, from +61497906000 to +61497906999. Unfortunately, numbers in this range have been used for a Technical support scam, posing as a Windows Help Desk in cold calls to Australian and New Zealand numbers. [12]

### Georgia[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2020)

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Beeline was bought by a Georgian businessman[13][14] and is no longer owned by Vimpelcom or Veon. It was later rebranded to Cellfie.[15] The first mobile call with Veon Georgia (brand Beeline) was initiated on March 15, 2007. From this time onward, the company has been actively developing and as of today it provides 1.3 million customers with 2G GSM 900/1800MHz, 3G 2100 MHz, 4G 800/1800 MHz and 5G wireless services under the name "Cellfie".[16]

### Kazakhstan[edit]

In 2004, PJSC VimpelCom, in its first move outside Russia's territory, acquired Kazakhstani cellular operator KaR-Tel (brand names K-Mobile and Excess).[17]

### Kyrgyzstan[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2020)

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Beeline is active in Kyrgyzstan and it is one of the most popular cellular carrier in Kyrgyzstan.[18] The first call on GSM network of Kyrgyzstan was made on August 1, 1998. In 2001 the trade name MobiCard was established that turned into brand Mobi in 2007. In 2009 company started to provide services under international brand Beeline. As for 2022 company provides services in standards of GSM-900/1800 and WCDMA/UMTS 2100/900 (3G) and LTE 800/1800/2100/2600 (4G).

### Laos[edit]

In 2011 Beeline entered Laos as VimpelCom Lao, replacing former Tigo. 22% shareholding remains with Lao government. 3G HSPA+ services began in January 2012. Numbers on Beeline Laos are 020-7xxx-xxxx. Beeline Laos 4G LTE to be launched soon. Now it is on a trial period.[19]

### Ukraine[edit]

Main article: Kyivstar

Beeline Ukraine (known as Ukrainian RadioSystems (URS) before February 2007) was a mobile operator in Ukraine with 2.22 million GSM subscribers (February 2007). The company operated under Beeline brand. In 2010 Beeline merged with Kyivstar. Now all Beeline Ukraine subscribers became Kyivstar subscribers.

The company was founded in 1995, and Motorola acquired 49% of the company in 1996. URS obtained a GSM-900 license in 1997, but Motorola backed off the venture the same year due to an alleged government favoritism to another mobile operator. The Korean Daewoo picked up the ownership, didn't do much to grow the business and sold it to a Ukrainian financial group in 2003. In November 2005, 100% of the company's ownership was acquired by the Russian VimpelCom for $230 million. The deal was surrounded by a controversy involving two major shareholders of VimpelCom: the Russian Alfa Group and Telenor, a Norwegian telecom conglomerate.[9]

Following the acquisition by VimpelCom, all of the company's services have been rebranded as Beeline, similar to a VimpelCom's major mobile assets in Russia. In 2010 Beeline Ukraine (URS) was merged with Kyivstar. Now company operates only under Kyivstar brand.

### Uzbekistan[edit]

Beeline is active in Uzbekistan and it is one of the most popular cellular carrier in Uzbekistan.[20][21]

### Vietnam[edit]

In July 2009 VimpelCom cooperated with a Vietnamese telecommunication company, GTel Telecommunications, to open a new mobile phone network in Vietnam called Beeline Vietnam. However, in 2012, after three years of business losses, Beeline withdrew from the joint venture and the Vietnamese market in general. Gtel Mobile continues to exploit the remaining base in Vietnam with a new brand, Gmobile.[22]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Ъ-Газета - "МегаФон" больше не третий". 25 May 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
2. ^ "Интернет-издание о высоких технологиях". Retrieved 17 July 2015.
3. ^ "Ъ - "Большая тройка" отчиталась". 13 March 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
4. ^ "VimpelCom - Contacts". Archived from the original on 2008-07-02. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
5. ^ "Svyazinvest Puts Cell Assets Up for Sale". Kommersant. 2007-06-25. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
6. ^ "Brands". VimpelCom. Archived from the original on 2012-07-25. Retrieved 2012-07-30.
7. ^ "NYSE Euronext Timeline". Archived from the original on 2015-05-08. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
8. ^ Kramer, Andrew E. "Vimpelcom". The New York Times.
9. ^ a b Bjorndal, Bente (2005-05-24). "Telenor to Fight New Alfa Group Lawsuit over Ukraine's WellCom". Forbes. Retrieved 2008-07-03.[dead link]
10. ^ "VimpelCom - Geography". Archived from the original on 2008-07-02. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
11. ^ "VimpelCom". Archived from the original on 7 February 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
12. ^ "WhoseNumber.info". Retrieved 2018-12-11.
13. ^ "Beeline To Become Majority Shareholder Of Beeline". bm.ge. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
14. ^ "Khvicha Makatsaria Buys 100% of the Company Beeline". CBW. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
15. ^ "About Company". cellfie.ge. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
16. ^ "About Company".
17. ^ "Vimpelcom - History - 2004". Retrieved 2008-07-03.[permanent dead link]
18. ^ "О нас - Бишкек и Чуйская область". beeline.kg. Archived from the original on 2018-10-23. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
19. ^ "Lao Telecom 4G LTE internet in service in 2014?". Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
20. ^ "Beeline - O'zbekiston uyali aloqa operatorining rasmiy sayti". beeline.uz. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
21. ^ "Beeline Uzbekistan". halberdbastion.com. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
22. ^ "Gmobile replaces Beeline, targets Mekong". Saigon Times. 19 September 2012. Archived from the original on 27 February 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2013.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beeline.

* Investor relations web site
* Corporate web site Archived 2020-03-26 at the Wayback Machine

* v
* t
* e

VEON

Ownership|

* Altimo (56.2%)
* Telenor Mobile Holding AS (33%)
* Minority shareholders (10.8%)

Divisions and
subsidiaries|

| Russia|

* PJSC VimpelCom (≈100%)
* KB Impuls (100%)
* Golden Telecom
* Corbina Telecom
* Sovintel
* Sovam teleport
* ROL (Russia-On-Line)
* Aport Search Engine
* Инвестэлектросвязь (100%)
* Кабардино-Балкарский GSM (100%)
* Карачаево-ЧеркесскТелеСот (100%)
* Комтел (100%)
* Корпорация "Северная корона" (100%)
* МСС-старт (100%)
* Новая телефонная компания (100%)
* РТИ Сервис-Связь (100%)
* СеверТрансКом (100%)
* Сота-100 (100%)
* Форатек Коммуникейшн (100%)
* Элтел (100%)
* Макроком (95%)
* Сахалин Телеком Мобайл (89.61%)
* Доминанта (75%)
* ЗАО "Кортек" (49%)

|

Other|

* Armenia Telephone Company (100%)
* Global Telecom Holding (98.24%)
* Djezzy (45.6%)
* KaR-Tel LLP (Kazakhstan)
* Kyivstar (100 %)
* Millicom Lao (78%)
* Mobitel (Georgia)
* Pakistan Mobile Communications (100%)
* JazzCash
* Takom (Tajikistan)
* SkyMobile (Kyrgyzstan)
* UNITEL (Uzbekistan)

Shareholdings|

* Euroset (Russia) (50%)

People|

* PJSC founder and honorary President: Dmitry Zimin
* PJSC co-founder and Chairman Emeritus: Augie K. Fabela II

* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

Telenor

Mobile|

* CelcomDigi (Malaysia) (33.1%)
* Djuice
* DNA Oyj
* Grameenphone (Bangladesh) (55%)
* Telenor Denmark
* Telenor Mobil (Norway)
* Telenor Pakistan
* Telenor Bank
* Easypaisa
* Telenor Sverige
* True Corporation (Thailand) (30%)

Fixed|

* Svalbard Undersea Cable System

Broadcasting|

* Allente (50%)
* Norges Televisjon (33%)
* Norkring
* RiksTV (33%)
* Thor satellites

Other|

* Telenor Arena Karlskrona
* Telenor Arena
* Telenor Maritim Radio

Former|

* AeroMobile
* Bredbandsbolaget
* Canal Digital
* Evry
* Glocalnet
* Kyivstar (Ukraine) (43%)
* One Montenegro
* Yettel Bulgaria
* Telenor Cinclus (66%)
* Yettel Hungary
* Telenor India
* Telenor Myanmar
* Yettel Serbia
* vcash
* Veon (33%)

* v
* t
* e

Russian mobile phone companies

Main companies|

* VimpelCom (Beeline)
* MTS (MGTS)
* MegaFon (North-West GSM; Yota)
* Rostelecom (Tele2 Russia; Sky Link)

Others|

* A1
* Akos
* Akos GSM
* Aline
* Aline GSM
* Bicnet
* Eline GSM
* Ermak RMS
* Evero
* Extel GSM
* FORA
* FORA Card
* FORA Communications
* GSM
* J
* Kuban GSM
* Kyivstar
* Kyivstar GSM
* LAVA
* MEGA
* Mobile TeleSeratout
* Moi WC
* Moi WC GSM
* Seven GSM
* Sotel
* Sotel CCB
* Stek
* Stek GSM
* STI Mobile
* STRELA Telecom
* Svyazinform
* Tambov GSM
* Utel
* WSE Mobil
* WHAT

* v
* t
* e

Cable, satellite, and other specialty television providers in Europe

Cable|

* A1 Bulgaria
* A1 Hrvatska
* Caiway
* Com Hem
* Delta
* Digi
* DNA
* Eir
* Elisa
* Elta-Kabel
* ER-Telecom
* Euskaltel
* Get
* Go
* IPKO
* Kabelnoord
* Kazakhtelecom
* Kujtesa
* M&H Company
* Magenta Telekom
* Magnet Networks
* Magyar Telekom
* MaxTV
* Melita
* MEO
* Miss.Net
* Monaco Cable
* Mtel Macedonia
* Naxoo
* NetCologne
* NOS
* Nowo
* Orange Belgium
* Orange Luxembourg
* Post Telecom
* Primacom
* R
* Rostelecom
* SBB
* SFR
* STV AS
* Swisscom
* Tango TV
* Tele2Vision
* Telecable
* Tele Columbus
* Telekabel
* Telekom Srbija
* Telemach
* Telenet
* Tet
* Toya
* Turksat Kablo TV
* UPC Poland
* UPC Switzerland
* Virgin Media Ireland
* Virgin TV
* Vodafone Czech Republic
* Vodafone España
* Vodafone Germany
* Vodafone Hungary
* Vodafone Romania
* VodafoneZiggo
* Voo
* WightFibre
* YouSee
* Ziggo

Satellite|

* A1 Bulgaria
* A1 Hrvatska
* Allente
* Bis Télévisions
* Bulsatcom
* Canal+
* Canal+ Polska
* Canal Digitaal
* Cosmote TV
* D-Smart
* Digi
* DigitAlb
* Digiturk
* Focus Sat
* Fransat
* Freesat
* HD+
* La TV d'Orange
* M7
* Magio TV
* MagtiCom
* MEO
* Movistar Plus+
* NOS
* Nova
* NTV Plus
* Orange Polska
* Orange Romania
* Orange Slovakia
* Polsat Box
* Saorsat
* Sky Germany
* Sky Ireland
* Sky Italy
* Skylink
* Sky UK
* Telekom Hungary
* Telekom Romania
* Telekom Srbija
* Télésat
* Tivùsat
* Total TV
* Tricolor TV
* Turksat
* TV Vlaanderen
* Viasat Ukraine
* Vivacom

Fiber/IPTV|

* A1 Bulgaria
* A1 Hrvatska
* A1 Telekom Austria
* Allente
* Altibox
* Amis
* Andorra Telecom
* Beeline
* Bouygues Telecom
* Bulsatcom
* CytaVision
* EE TV
* eir Vision
* Free
* HT Eronet
* iNES
* KPN
* La TV d'Orange
* Magenta TV
* Magnet Networks
* MEO
* Moja TV
* Moldtelecom
* Movistar Plus+
* Nova
* Odido
* Orange España
* Orange Polska
* PrimeTel
* Proximus TV
* Scarlet
* SFR
* Síminn
* Smart Telecom
* Sunrise TV
* Super TV
* T-2
* TalkTalk TV
* Telekom Romania
* Telekom Srbija
* Telenor
* Telia
* Telia Digital-tv
* Teo LT
* TIMvision
* Tivibu
* Turkcell TV+
* Vivacom
* Vodafone Greece
* Vodafone Ireland
* Vodafone Italy
* Vodafone North Cyprus
* Vodafone Portugal
* Vodafone Turkey
* XS4ALL
* YouView
* Ziggo

Terrestrial|

* BoxerTV (SE)
* Digea (GR)
* Digitenne (NL)
* EVOtv (HR)
* Freeview (UK)
* GO (MT)
* PlusTV (FI)
* PTDT (PT)
* RiksTV (NO)
* Saorview (IE)
* TDT (ES)
* TNT (FR)
* TV Vlaanderen (BE)

Defunct|

* @Home
* AKTA TV
* Alice Home TV
* Alpha Digital
* Athina Sat
* blizoo
* BoomTV
* BSB
* Canal+ Spain
* Canal Digital
* Casema
* CenterTelecom
* CTV
* Easy TV
* Infostrada TV
* ITV Digital
* Joyne
* Kabel BW
* Madritel
* Mediaset Premium
* N
* Neuf Cegetel TV
* North-West Telecom
* Numericable
* ONO
* On Telecoms
* Real Digital
* Quiero Television
* Radijus Vektor
* Southern Telecom
* Stream TV
* Starman
* TDC
* Telfort
* TVTEL
* TV di Fastweb
* Unitymedia
* UPC France
* UPC Hungary
* Ziggo
* UPC Romania
* Uralsvyazinform
* Viasat
* Vodafone Kabel Deutschland
* VolgaTelecom
* Wind Vision

* Middle East, Africa, Asia and Oceania
* Americas
* Canada
* Latin America and the Caribbean
* United States

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