Mobile TeleSystems Launches 3G Network in Russia

Mobile TeleSystems has announced the commercial launch of its 3G network in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and technical readiness of 3G networks for commercial launch in the Russian cities of Sochi, Yekaterinburg and Kazan.

Saint Petersburg has become the first Russian city where MTS launched its next-generation network. The company plans to launch additional 3G networks in over 10 cities during 2008 and in up to 40 cities in Russia through 2009. MTS also holds 3G licenses in Uzbekistan and Armenia, where the network will be launched as early as 2009.

The company plans to invest around RUB38 billion in 3G network development over the next three years to provide high-speed data transfer services to its customers in Russia and the CIS.

According to the company, the key benefit of a next-generation network is the ability to provide customers with faster data download speeds with top download capacity using HSPA technology up to 3.6Mbit/s. This is over 10 times faster than the currently available 2G EDGE technology.

Mikhail Shamolin, CEO of MTS Russia, said: “We believe that conditions for the 3G launch in Russia are more favorable than in the developed markets. Today’s HSPA-enabled infrastructure allows download speeds up to 10 times faster than the first phase of 3G networks, while the costs for equipment and devices are significantly cheaper.”