UzACI investigation throws a spanner in the works

Following reports earlier this week that the Uzbek telecoms regulator was considering revoking the licence of Russian-backed cellco MTS Uzbekistan over quality of service issues, the provider has said that the watchdog’s activities are now interfering with its operations. According to Dow Jones, MTS announced that the running of its Uzbek subsidiary was being hampered by an investigation carried out by the Uzbekistan Agency for Communications and Information (UzACI). The company said in a statement: ‘These measures are being conducted with the violation of the current law of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which creates risks for MTS Uzbekistan’s continuation of work on schedule and may make further activities of MTS in this country more difficult.’