MOSCOW, January 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
Mobile TeleSystems OJSC ("MTS" or "the
Company" - NYSE: MBT), the leading telecommunications provider in
Russia and the CIS, announces the
results of its network modernization in Sochi and Krasnodar Krai
completed in 2013. During the year, network capacity has doubled
while mobile Internet speeds in the cities across the region
reached 42MB/s. As a result, the volume of the consumer traffic on
the network increased two times.
Andrei Ushatskiy, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of
MTS, commented, "MTS is the market leader in Krasnodar Krai, which
encompasses the Sochi region and in turn necessitates a high level
of commitment to providing best-in-class services to our customers
in light of the anticipated influx of guests at regional resorts.
Total investments in the region during 2011-2013 exceeded
RUB 10 billion, or over USD 300 million. We see the upcoming sporting
events as an opportunity to demonstrate the high level of quality
of MTS's networks, which have been shown to be the fastest networks
in the region."
MTS has completed substantial network enhancements throughout
the territory of Greater Sochi, including the areas where sporting
events will take place. In 2013, all of the base stations in Sochi
were upgraded to DC-HSDPA technology, which enabled MTS to increase
peak data transfer speeds up to 42 MB/s. In December 2013, MTS also increased capacity
throughout the Sochi and Adler areas by 30 percent. 3G coverage was
extended to the Imereti lowland and small population centers of
Verkhneye Buu, Nizhnyaya Beranda, Gornoye Lo, Vishnevka, and
Kalinovoye ozero.
Furthermore, MTS provides coverage for all outdoor sports
facilities in the coastal and mountain clusters. Early last year,
MTS's services were launched in the areas of the bobsleigh track
and biathlon stadium on the Psekhako mountain. MTS has also
reinforced coverage at the lower slopes and the tourist complex
Mountain Carousel on the slopes of the complex Rosa Khutor. Voice
and Internet communication services are available on ski-jumping
complex Russian Hills, located on the slope of the Aibka ridge. The
MTS network also covers two large hotel complexes, Chernomorets SPA
and Radisson Blue, where the International Olympic Committee
headquarters are based.
During the past three years, MTS has been actively working to
increase the coverage across the mountain cluster of sports
facilities and access roads to them. During this period, the
capacity of the "third generation networks" around Krasnaya Polyana
was increased more than three times. In addition, MTS was the first
operator to ensure full coverage of the Sochi International Airport
with "next generation networks". More than 100 antennas were
installed in the airport territory, which together with external
base stations provide for high-quality voice and data services.
MTS network development in Krasnodar Krai
In 2013, MTS enhanced 3G network coverage in 108 population
centers in Krasnodar Krai, including 29 population centers which
lacked any mobile Internet connectivity. With an aim to
"bridge the digital divide", MTS provided access to voice and
data networks in small and far-flung population centers, including
Pervaya Sinyukha, Khadjiko, Kalezh.
During 2013, MTS rolled-out backbone networks with a total
length of more than 300 km connecting population centers
Kuschevskaya and Yeisk, Yurovsk with Tenmryuk and Taman. MTS also
completed build-up of the fiber-optic lines surrounding the city of
Krasnodar with the capacity of the new lines amounting to 10 GB.
Enhancement of the fiber-optic lines allows MTS to increase data
transfer speeds throughout the region, including in the remote and
inaccessible areas.
* * *
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 100 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, 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, Corporate Finance & Investor Relations
Mobile TeleSystems OJSC
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 OJSC