Globalization of Beeline

This case tells the story of the international growth strategy implemented by Vympelcom (brand 'Beeline'), one of the leading Russian mobile telecommunication services provider. The first part of the case describes the start-up of Beeline which was among the first mobile telecom providers in Russia and the first steps of international growth in the neighboring markets: Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Georgia and Armenia. Special attention is paid to the examples of how the company learnt to work on culturally or historically close yet rather different markets, to capture growth opportunities and to overcome strategy implementation difficulties. The case concludes with the launch of the second phase of Beeline globalization: entry into Far East (Cambodia and Vietnam) and the 'Weather deal': acquisition of Weather Investments private investment company of Mr Naguib Sawiris, the Egyptian magnate, with holdings in mobile telecom industry in Italy, in Egypt, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Algeria, Canada, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Burundi, CAR and Namibia, which made Beeline the fifth largest mobile telecom operator in the world.