Page All:
Page 1
MTS Launches 3G Networks in All Markets of Operation
MOSCOW, November 3, 2010/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mobile TeleSystems OJSC ("MTS" - NYSE: MBT), the leading
telecommunications provider in Russia and the CIS, announces the commercial
launch of its 3G network in Turkmenistan that completes the deployment of
"third generation" networks in all markets of operation of the MTS Group.
Today, MTS offers high-speed mobile Internet access is available to residents
and visitors throughout Russia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia and
Turkmenistan.
In Russia, the Company's 3G network was launched in May 2008.
Mobile broadband is now available to MTS subscribers in more than 360 cities
across the country. In Ukraine, MTS' CDMA network provides data transfer
rates of up to 3.1 Mbps and covers more than 200 regional centers. In
Uzbekistan, MTS launched its 3G network into commercial operation in December
2008 and now provides coverage in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Urgench and
Khiva. The employed HSDPA technology delivers data transfer rates of up to
3.6 Mbps enabling innovative services such as video calling. The first
VivaCell-MTS 3G network was launched in April 2009 in the three largest
Armenian cities - Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor. The HSPA/UMTS technology in
Armenia provides for data transfer speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps with the MTS
network covering about 93% of population in 650 localities. In Yerevan, the
network is based on the more advanced HSPA+ technology that allows for speeds
of up to 21.6 Mbps.
In Turkmenistan, MTS' 3G network currently covers the center
of Ashgabat, the capital city of the republic, as well as the surrounding
area of the international airport. MTS Turkmenistan subscribers will be able
to access Internet with download speeds of up to 21 Mbps and upload speeds of
up to 11 Mbps. The Company plans to launch its 3G network in Turkmenbashi
City in the near future and will continue the build-out so as to cover all of
the provincial centers.
"The commercial launch of the HSPA + 3G network is a major
milestone for MTS Turkmenistan and MTS Group as a whole. MTS is now offering
its subscribers a qualitatively new level of broadband Internet access and
data sharing. The significant increase in mobile Internet usage in countries
with 3G coverage indicates that there is a great demand for broadband
Internet access that creates a powerful incentive for the further development
of innovative technologies. We plan to expand our next-generation networks,
increase coverage areas and provide innovative services with the aim of
enhancing possibilities for mobile communications in all countries where we
operate," commented Oleg Raspopov, MTS Vice President and Head of Business
Unit "MTS Foreign Subsidiaries".
Total capital expenditures (CAPEX) of the MTS Group in the
first half of 2010 amounted to $566 million. The Company expects an increase
in CAPEX in the second half of 2010 and maintains its previous CAPEX guidance
of 22-24% of revenue for the full year 2010.
Learn more about MTS. Visit the official blog of the Investor Relations
Department at http://www.mtsgsm.com/blog/
Mobile TeleSystems OJSC ("MTS") is the leading telecommunications group
in Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, offering mobile and fixed voice,
broadband, pay TV as well as content and entertainment services in one of the
world's fastest growing regions. Including its subsidiaries, the Group
services over 105.2 million mobile subscribers in Russia, Ukraine,
Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia and Belarus, a region that boasts a total
population of more than 230 million. Since June 2000, MTS' Level 3 ADRs have
been listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol MBT). Additional
information about the MTS Group can be found at http://www.mtsgsm.com.
Some of the information in this press release may contain
projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or
the future financial performance of MTS, as defined in the safe harbor
provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You
can identify forward looking statements by terms such as "expect," "believe,"
"anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "will," "could," "may" or "might," and
the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. We wish to caution
you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or
results may differ materially. We do not undertake or intend to update these
statements to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date
hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. We refer you to
the documents MTS files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission, specifically the Company's most recent Form 20-F. These
documents contain and identify important factors, including those contained
in the section captioned "Risk Factors" that could cause the actual results
to differ materially from those contained in our projections or
forward-looking statements, including, among others, the severity and
duration of current economic and financial conditions, including volatility
in interest and exchange rates, commodity and equity prices and the value of
financial assets; the impact of Russian, U.S. and other foreign government
programs to restore liquidity and stimulate national and global economies,
our ability to maintain our current credit rating and the impact on our
funding costs and competitive position if we do not do so, strategic actions,
including acquisitions and dispositions and our success in integrating
acquired businesses, including Comstar-UTS, potential fluctuations in
quarterly results, our competitive environment, dependence on new service
development and tariff structures, rapid technological and market change,
acquisition strategy, risks associated with telecommunications
infrastructure, governmental regulation of the telecommunications industries
and other risks associated with operating in Russia and the CIS, volatility
of stock price, financial risk management and future growth subject to risks.
Source: Mobile TeleSystems OJSC
For further information, please contact in Moscow: Joshua B. Tulgan, Director, Investor Relations, Acting Director, Corporate Finance, Department of Investor Relations, Mobile TeleSystems OJSC, Tel: +7-495-223-2025, E-mail: ir@mts.ru
MTS Launches 3G Networks in All Markets of Operation
MOSCOW, November 3, 2010/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mobile TeleSystems OJSC ("MTS" - NYSE: MBT), the leading
telecommunications provider in Russia and the CIS, announces the commercial
launch of its 3G network in Turkmenistan that completes the deployment of
"third generation" networks in all markets of operation of the MTS Group.
Today, MTS offers high-speed mobile Internet access is available to residents
and visitors throughout Russia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia and
Turkmenistan.
In Russia, the Company's 3G network was launched in May 2008.
Mobile broadband is now available to MTS subscribers in more than 360 cities
across the country. In Ukraine, MTS' CDMA network provides data transfer
rates of up to 3.1 Mbps and covers more than 200 regional centers. In
Uzbekistan, MTS launched its 3G network into commercial operation in December
2008 and now provides coverage in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Urgench and
Khiva. The employed HSDPA technology delivers data transfer rates of up to
3.6 Mbps enabling innovative services such as video calling. The first
VivaCell-MTS 3G network was launched in April 2009 in the three largest
Armenian cities - Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor. The HSPA/UMTS technology in
Armenia provides for data transfer speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps with the MTS
network covering about 93% of population in 650 localities. In Yerevan, the
network is based on the more advanced HSPA+ technology that allows for speeds
of up to 21.6 Mbps.
In Turkmenistan, MTS' 3G network currently covers the center
of Ashgabat, the capital city of the republic, as well as the surrounding
area of the international airport. MTS Turkmenistan subscribers will be able
to access Internet with download speeds of up to 21 Mbps and upload speeds of
up to 11 Mbps. The Company plans to launch its 3G network in Turkmenbashi
City in the near future and will continue the build-out so as to cover all of
the provincial centers.
"The commercial launch of the HSPA + 3G network is a major
milestone for MTS Turkmenistan and MTS Group as a whole. MTS is now offering
its subscribers a qualitatively new level of broadband Internet access and
data sharing. The significant increase in mobile Internet usage in countries
with 3G coverage indicates that there is a great demand for broadband
Internet access that creates a powerful incentive for the further development
of innovative technologies. We plan to expand our next-generation networks,
increase coverage areas and provide innovative services with the aim of
enhancing possibilities for mobile communications in all countries where we
operate," commented Oleg Raspopov, MTS Vice President and Head of Business
Unit "MTS Foreign Subsidiaries".
Total capital expenditures (CAPEX) of the MTS Group in the
first half of 2010 amounted to $566 million. The Company expects an increase
in CAPEX in the second half of 2010 and maintains its previous CAPEX guidance
of 22-24% of revenue for the full year 2010.
Learn more about MTS. Visit the official blog of the Investor Relations
Department at http://www.mtsgsm.com/blog/
Mobile TeleSystems OJSC ("MTS") is the leading telecommunications group
in Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, offering mobile and fixed voice,
broadband, pay TV as well as content and entertainment services in one of the
world's fastest growing regions. Including its subsidiaries, the Group
services over 105.2 million mobile subscribers in Russia, Ukraine,
Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia and Belarus, a region that boasts a total
population of more than 230 million. Since June 2000, MTS' Level 3 ADRs have
been listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol MBT). Additional
information about the MTS Group can be found at http://www.mtsgsm.com.
Some of the information in this press release may contain
projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or
the future financial performance of MTS, as defined in the safe harbor
provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You
can identify forward looking statements by terms such as "expect," "believe,"
"anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "will," "could," "may" or "might," and
the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. We wish to caution
you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or
results may differ materially. We do not undertake or intend to update these
statements to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date
hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. We refer you to
the documents MTS files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission, specifically the Company's most recent Form 20-F. These
documents contain and identify important factors, including those contained
in the section captioned "Risk Factors" that could cause the actual results
to differ materially from those contained in our projections or
forward-looking statements, including, among others, the severity and
duration of current economic and financial conditions, including volatility
in interest and exchange rates, commodity and equity prices and the value of
financial assets; the impact of Russian, U.S. and other foreign government
programs to restore liquidity and stimulate national and global economies,
our ability to maintain our current credit rating and the impact on our
funding costs and competitive position if we do not do so, strategic actions,
including acquisitions and dispositions and our success in integrating
acquired businesses, including Comstar-UTS, potential fluctuations in
quarterly results, our competitive environment, dependence on new service
development and tariff structures, rapid technological and market change,
acquisition strategy, risks associated with telecommunications
infrastructure, governmental regulation of the telecommunications industries
and other risks associated with operating in Russia and the CIS, volatility
of stock price, financial risk management and future growth subject to risks.
Source: Mobile TeleSystems OJSC
For further information, please contact in Moscow: Joshua B. Tulgan, Director, Investor Relations, Acting Director, Corporate Finance, Department of Investor Relations, Mobile TeleSystems OJSC, Tel: +7-495-223-2025, E-mail: ir@mts.ru