9:00 AM -- Are some markets more immune to the impact of the global economic downturn?

Alexander Izosimov, CEO of Russian mobile operator Vimpel-Communications (NYSE: VIP) and the new chairman of the GSM Association (GSMA) , told Reuters he's not seeing much in the way of a negative impact on the telecom services sector -- yet. (See GSMA Names New Chairman.)

Check out the Reuters article to read what Izosimov said at the World Economic Forum.

And expect plenty of talk about the impact of the global recession on the telecom sector at the upcoming Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona (February 16-19). (See MWC 2009 Preview, MWC: Security Update, GSMA: Bullish on Barcelona, and GSMA Preps for MWC.)

— Ray Le Maistre, International News Editor, Light Reading