The collapse of the Soviet Empire has provided enormous new opportunities for those Western telcos able to penetrate this promising but difficult market. The Stalinist command economy's neglect of telecommunications created a huge industrial and household demand for modern communication services, but at the same time left organizations and ingrained values hostile to market economies. Several studies illustrate different telco strategies and examine potential success and failures. Among other cases those of Alcatel/SEL and Siemens in East Germany highlight the risks and rewards of Eastern European experiences.