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MTS expands it’s 3G services to Siberia and Russia Far East (Russia)

  • September 19th, 2008
  • 5:44 am

MTS, the leading Russian mobile operator extends it’s 3G coverage to Siberia and the Russia Far East. The operator has switched to HSPA - enabled services in Novosibirsk, Norilsk and Vladivostok.
The 3G service by MTS was launched in May and will be launched in 14 cities by the end of 2008 and to 40 other in 2009.
The mobile operator plans to invest nearly $1.6bn in 3G network development over the next three years in order to provide high speed data services to it’s subscribers. The services available include video calls and mobile TV, as well as wireless broadband modems for both laptops and desktop PCs.

   

Minority shareholder sues Telenor for €2.37bn

  • April 18th, 2008
  • 12:05 pm

Telenor’s Russian unit has been sued for €2.37 billion (US$3.8 billion) in a Siberian court in the lastest development in a long legal battle, an Associated Press report said. The Norwegian operator’s Russian business is accused of damaging another Russian mobile operator, VimpelCom, by one of the latter’s minority shareholders.

Telenor said in a statement that it saw no merit in the suit, which follows an almost identical claim for €625,000 (US$1 billion) made by Eco Telecom, part of Russia’s Alfa Group, in March.

Telenor is locked in a struggle with Alfa Group, the main owner of Russia’s OAO Vimpel Communications, over Vimpelcom wanting to buy the Ukrainian mobile operator Kyivstar GSM, in which Telenor holds a controlling stake.

“The lawsuit’s claims against Telenor are that Telenor harmed VimpelCom by preventing VimpelCom from purchasing Kyivstar and delaying VimpelCom’s purchase of Ukrainian Radio Systems,” the statement said.

The latest suit was filed in Khanty-Mansiysk, a remote town in Siberia 2,759 km (1,714 miles) from Moscow by Farimex Products, a British Virgin Islands company. Telenor noted that the court records did not reveal who owns Farimex Products.

   

 

Sky Link big winner in Siberia GSM licence tender (Russia)

  • October 23rd, 2007
  • 2:02 pm

VimpelCom and Summa Telecom failed to secure any GSM licences in the most recent tender for thirteen licences in five Siberian regions, Russian news site Cnews reports. Sky Link subsidiary Novosibirskaya Sotovaya Svyaz – 450 has won licences for 1800MHz services in all regions excluding the Irkutsk region, while Sibirtelecom’s subsidiary Baikalvestcom won 1800MHz licences in the Chita region, Aginsko-Buryatsky region and both 1800MHz and 900MHz licences in the Ust-Ordynsky region. Svyazinvest company Akos further secured a licence in the Aginsko-Buryatsky region, Tele2 Kemerovo won a licence for the Tomsk region and Vladivostok New Telephone won a 1800MHz licence in the Aginsko-Buryatsky region and a 900/1800MHz licence in the Ust-Ordynsky region. Sky Link put in eleven bids for itself and daughter companies in various regions. MegaFon entered 8 bids while VimpelCom and MTS each entered 3 bids. Other bidders included Volgatelecom, Smarts, as well as new entrants Strimton, FirmaGeocom and Summa Telecom. The latter already won some licences in the Far East and the Ural in earlier tenders.