Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (MTS – NYSE: MBT), Russia's and CIS' largest mobile operator, and OTEGLOBE S.A., the leading telecommunications provider in Greece and the Balkans, connected their networks in a purpose of international traffic exchange.
The direct interconnect is realized between MTS and OTEGLOBE S.A. in ancotel Telehouse (Frankfurt Germany) and which is the interconnection meeting point of int’l carriers. Under this agreement, OTEGLOBE S.A. will have the possibility of terminating its traffic to MTS-Group networks which include territories of Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Belarus, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. MTS on the other hand will get access to all the international OTEGLOBE S.A. directions which cover all the countries of SE & Central Europe, the broader Mediterranean Sea countries and other destination around the world through more than 150 direct bilateral routes.
In this way, OTEGLOBE’s presence in the broader Russian & CIS region is reinforced, as the company is already interconnected with all the major telecommunications carriers & operators.
"The direct interconnection with OTEGLOBE S.A. is next step of MTS' strategy of independent activity on international communication market and quality improvement for the calls performed to Balkans region. Our cooperation sustains the stable high quality of services provided to MTS' roaming subscribers in such popular tourist directions as Greece, Cyprus, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Croatia and other SE Europe’s countries" said Evgeny Moskalev, MTS Director Convergence Block – Fixed Line Business, Broadband Interconnect and Roaming.
"The cooperation with MTS is step further in our continues effort to expand our footprint and direct coverage via partnerships with the strongest telecom operators in each region, so as to deliver the best quality services for our partner and customers around the World," said Mr. George Nikoloudis, OTEGLOBE’s Voice Sales Services Director.
MTS received a telecommunications services license in 2006. In November 2008 company started a telecommunication network and obtained a permit from Ministry of Telecommunications and Mass Communications of Russian Federation for providing international and long-distance traffic transmission services through its own network. As a result, Company was able to establish direct connections with worldwide operators and has already made direct interfaces with TeliaSonera International Carriers, Telecom Italia Sparkle and TATA Communications, KPN (iBasis), Orange, Telefónica, Deutsche Telekom A.G. Earlier, in compliance with regulatory requirements, MTS transmitted international traffic through national telecommunications operators which in turn made connections to worldwide operators.
ABOUT MTS
Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (MTS) is Russia's and CIS' largest mobile operator. Its consolidated subscriber base is 95.03 million subscribers. The population of the 82 Russian regions and Armenia, Belarus, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan where MTS and its affiliates have GSM service licenses exceeds 230 million. Since June 2000 MTS' shares are listed at the New York Stock Exchange, code: MBT. In April 2008 the MTS brand became Russia's first and only brand to place in BRANDZTM top 100 brands published by Financial Times and the world's leading agency Millward Brown. Further information is available at www.mts.ru.