User:GreyGoose/Altimo

Alfa Group acquired a 44% stake in Golden Telecom, a large telecommunications and internet company in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, in 2001. Also in 2001, Alfa purchased a strategic ownership interest in VimpelCom, a large cellular operator in Russia, and Fridman joined VimpelCom's board of directors.

Alfa Group consolidated its telecom holdings as Alfa Telecom, and renamed it Altimo by 2005. Its holdings and acquisitions included MegaFon, Vimpelcom, Golden Telecom, and Kyivstar.

Fridman's desire to merge Vimpelcom and Kyivstar was thwarted by his Vimpelcom partner, the Norwegian telecoms group Telenor, which held stakes in both companies. Fridman resorted to protracted and aggressive efforts to strong-arm Telenor beginning in 2005, and conflicts with Telenor over control of Vimpelcom lasted for seven years.

IPOC, MegaFon

 * https://www.forbes.com/2006/06/09/fridman-alfa-group-cx_cn_0609autofacescan06.html#65153ed46abd MegaFon