MTS, Rostelecom strike joint infrastructure usage deal
MOSCOW. Feb 20 (Interfax) - OJSC Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) and OJSC Rostelecom have struck an agreement on joint access to telecommunications infrastructure - communications lines, antenna-mast structures, premises for installing equipment, and other property belonging to the two companies.
The agreement allows MTS access to Rostelecom fiber optic lines where the state company is virtually the sole operator of trunk lines, particularly in some regions of Siberia and the Russian Far East, MTS Press Secretary Valeria Kuzmenko told the papers Vedomosti and Kommersant.
Rostelecom gains the opportunity to put equipment in areas where it has few of its own towers.
Rostelecom is prepared to work under analogous scheme with other market operators, Kuzmenko said. The company has already agreed with Skartel (Yota) on the mutual use of infrastructure. Skartel and Megafon have a similar deal.
VimpelCom has an agreement on the joint building and rental of fiber optic communications lines in exchange for positions on MTS and Megafon towers, and is discussing with Rostelecom the laying of such lines at Sakhalin and other joint projects.
Rostelecom's trunk network stretches for 500,000 kilometers, MTS's - 117,000 km. The shared usage of these will allow the two companies to save 10% on their capital and operating costs, which analysts calculate at $300-$500 for each.