MOSCOW, October 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Mobile TeleSystems PJSC (NYSE:MBT; MOEX: MTSS) and
Vodafone announced that they have agreed to extend
their strategic partner market agreement and expand the scope of it
in Ukraine, signifying a deeper
relationship between the two companies in the country.
Under the new partnership, the companies will roll out 3G and
develop a number of new services in the market using the Vodafone
brand in the Ukraine.
Both companies have been working together since the original
partner market agreement was signed in 2008. Under this agreement,
MTS has gained exclusive access to a range of products, services
and devices from Vodafone for both consumer and corporate markets.
It has also helped MTS leverage Vodafone's expertise in marketing
and deployment of new technologies. This new agreement builds
on and develops this long-standing partnership.
Vasyl Latsanych, MTS Vice President for Marketing, remarked,
"Since MTS and Vodafone began our partnership, MTS has drawn on
Vodafone support for a number of key strategic initiatives,
including the introduction of data services throughout our markets.
Now, with the emergence of 3G, is right time to deepen our
partnership with Vodafone to take advantage of growth opportunities
in the Ukrainian telecommunications market."
Headquartered in Kiev, MTS
Ukraine has more than 20 million customers and 3,800 employees.
The launch of 3G services under the Vodafone brand in
Ukraine will commence in the
coming months and will include the transition of MTS's retail
outlets and the majority of its dealerships.
Under this new strategic partnership, Vodafone will introduce a
number of its services to the Ukrainian market which have proved
extremely popular in Europe,
including bundled offers, competitive long-distance international
calls and worry-free roaming when abroad.
Ukrainian customers will also benefit from Vodafone's extensive
3G experience when it launches the new technology in the coming
months. Vodafone, which has already rolled out 3G in 26
countries, will advise on network operation, network optimization
and the introduction of high quality 3G services, including music
and games applications for consumers.
Vodafone's global 3G expertise will help expand access to the
internet for Ukrainian consumers and businesses alike, giving a
boost to the internet economy and helping to drive the next stage
in the development of Ukraine's
telecommunications market.
Vodafone Partner Markets Chief Executive Stefano Gastaut said: "The new, enhanced
agreement with MTS enables us to bring the best of Vodafone's
products and services to the people of Ukraine. MTS Ukraine is building a high
quality 3G network, which means Vodafone will launch in a strong
position in the market. Our deeper co-operation in the
business - signified by the introduction of the Vodafone brand -
will bring additional benefits to consumers and businesses as we
focus on a successful launch of 3G data services and greater
adoption of the mobile internet."
MTS Ukraine General Director Oleg
Prozhyvalsky said: "Undoubtedly, the launch of the Vodafone
brand in Ukraine is the most
significant event in the market over recent years. Ukrainian
customers will be able to get access to a wide range of 3G services
already available in Europe and
other Vodafone countries. The implementation of the company's
unique global technological and marketing expertise in Ukraine will have a positive impact for
consumers, enterprises and the economy."
Mobile TeleSystems PJSC ("MTS") is the leading
telecommunications group in Russia, Сentral and Eastern Europe, offering mobile and fixed
voice, broadband and pay TV in one of the world's fastest growing
regions. Including its subsidiaries, the Group services over 100
million mobile subscribers. The Group operates in Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus, a region that boasts a total
population of more than 230 million. Since June 2000, MTS's Level 3 ADRs have been listed on
the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol MBT). Additional
information about 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, 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.
For further information, please contact in Moscow:
Joshua B. Tulgan
Director, Department of Corporate Finance and Investor
Relations
Mobile TeleSystems PJSC
Tel: +7-495-223-2025
E-mail: ir@mts.ru
Learn more about MTS. Visit the official blog of the Investor
Relations Department at http://www.mtsgsm.com/blog/
SOURCE Mobile TeleSystems PJSC (MTS)