Russian mobile operator MTS announced that its subsidiary Telecom Povolzhye has acquired regional mobile operators Penza-GSM, Smarts-Ivanovo and Smarts-Ufa from the operator Smarts. In total, MTS paid RUB 3.13 billion including debt for the three companies.
The acquisition will enhance MTS's spectrum resources in a number of regions. Penza-GSM owns 14.8 MHz in the 1,800 MHz range and 6.2 MHz in the 900 MHz band. Smarts-Ivanovo owns 14.2 MHz in the 1,800 MHz band and 10.0 MHz of 900 MHz spectrum, and Smarts-Ufa owns 14.6 MHz in the 1,800 MHz range.
According to Andrei Dubovskov, CEO of MTS, the transaction allows MTS to sustain its leadership in the Bashkiria market and significantly increase its presence in the Penza and Ivanovo regions. MTS will also benefit from the additional spectrum resources, which provide greater potential for refarming the 1,800 MHz band for LTE networks.
