Russian state-controlled telecommunications operator Rostelecom has begun negotiations with Tele2 Russia, which is owned by the country’s second-biggest lender VTB, about using the mobile virtual network operator model, Interfax reports Monday, citing Rostelecom’s chief executive Sergei Kalugin.
Tele2 Russia is the country’s fourth-largest mobile operator on the market. An MVNO agreement would enable it to use Rostelecom’s third-generation, or 3G, network to provide its services to more clients. The company currently has no 3G, or the even faster long-term-evolution licences, and operates in the GSM standard.
“I think the first [thing] that we will do now, we will try to agree with them on MVNO,” Mr. Kalugin is quoted as saying. “This, I believe, can be done right away,” he added.
He said the management of the two companies had already had two meetings on the subject, Interfax reports.