Mobile TeleSystems (MTS), the leading telecommunications provider in Russia and the CIS, has acquired the regional assets of SMARTS, a mobile operator active in the Volga and Central Regions via its subsidiary company Telecom Povolzhye for RUB 3.13 bln including debt. According to a statement by MTS, the acquisition will enhance MTS’s spectrum resources in a number of key regions across 900MHz and 1800MHx spectrums.
MTS said that the acquisation will allow them to offer improved coverage and faster speeds on mobile broadband for their subscribers. MTS added that the acquisition will also help them realize substantial economies of scale upon integration of the acquired businesses in the MTS Group.
Andrei Dubovskov, President and CEO of MTS
The transaction allows MTS to sustain its leadership in the Bashkiria market and significantly increase its presence in Penza Region and Ivanovo Region. MTS will also benefit from obtaining additional spectrum resources in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz ranges, which provides a greater potential for refarming the 1800 MHz bandwidth for LTE networks.
