The director of Russian group MTS’s fixed network and TV service division, Dmitry Bagdasaryan, has revealed the company’s plans to launch fixed line services in Ukraine, Belarus and Armenia in 2013-2014, according to Ukrainian site ProIT, citing a report from the Prime news agency. The MTS executive added that the group does not rule out making acquisitions of rival operators in the three CIS countries to develop fixed network services, while he hinted that several target companies had been identified, although no transactions had been agreed yet.
TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database says that cellco MTS Ukraine already offers fixed broadband services for corporate clients, whilst its sister company Comstar-Ukraine previously said that by the end of 2012 all products and services will be transferred to the MTS brand, following the initial launch in December 2011 of jointly-provided fixed broadband services by MTS and Comstar-Ukraine.
GlobalComms also shows that the MTS group’s consolidated Russian fixed network subsidiary Comstar United TeleSystems owns 100% of Armenian telco Cornet-AM (also known as Kornet and CallNet), which specialises in the provision of internet and related services based on IP technologies, as well as in delivery of data communications. Cornet-AM has secured permission to provide fixed line voice services across the country.
MTS Belarus, which is currently a minority-owned interest of the MTS group, already offers fixed internet access via ADSL and Ethernet alongside its cellular range.