The Russian government is ready to sell over an 50 percent stake in the national operator Rostelecom to Russian mobile operators MTS, Megafon and Beeline, reports Kommersant citing senior government officials. The new scheme would avoid the entry of foreign investors in the privatisation process, something opposed by the Ministry of Defense due to security concerns. The mobile business of the national operator would be sold to Tele2 Russia, and the rest of the activities offered to MTS, Megafon and Beeline.
