Tele2 denies report its brand use contract expires in Sept

MOSCOW. March 9 (Interfax) - Russian mobile services provider Tele2 has denied a report in the media that its contract with Sweden's Tele2 AB to use the Tele2 brand will expire soon.

Business daily Vedomosti, citing a source close to the provider and the CEO of a major IT company, reported on Thursday that the brand use contract expires in September 2023. Tele2 AB spokesman Fredrik Hallstan declined to disclose the expiration date of the contract, the paper said.

"The information from unnamed sources about the expiration of the agreement in September 2023 is fake. The company continues to use the brand under the current contract, which does not expire in September 2023. The use of the Tele2 trademark outside of the period stipulated in the agreement with the Swedish side is out of the question," the Russian company said.

The brand is being used legally, as the agreement on the use of the trademark remains in effect, the company said. It did not disclose the contract's duration.

Tele2 also said it is not taking any steps to prepare for a rebranding.

Sweden's Tele2 AB sold its Russian subsidiary to state bank VTB in March 2013 and granted it the right to use the brand for ten years. The company was later acquired by national provider Rostelecom .

Kommersant reported in March 2022 that Tele2 AB had not extended the rights to use the brand and the Russian company might rebrand. This was subsequently denied.