Tele2 has denied a local newspaper report claiming the company may sell its Russian unit if it is not awarded a licence in the federation’s LTE tender, the results of which are set to be announced on 12 July.
“Tele2 is not conducting any…
Tele2 has denied a local newspaper report claiming the company may sell its Russian unit if it is not awarded a licence in the federation’s LTE tender, the results of which are set to be announced on 12 July.
“Tele2 is not conducting any negotiations on the sale of the company,” Tele2 Russia said in a statement issued in response to the RBC Daily article.
Russia’s fourth largest mobile operator stressed it is “effectively implementing its long-term business development plans” and highlighted its positive financial and operational results for the first quarter.
Its parent company, Sweden’s Tele2, was also quick to reject the report, describing the sale claims as “rumours” on its Twitter feed.
Tele2 Russia has clearly articulated its dissatisfaction with certain terms of the long-awaited tender, launched by the communications ministry on 4 May. It has also expressed disappointment the tender does not include a regional licence – a proposal the company says was put forward during the consultation phase.
“From our point of view, the tender terms of geography and […] construction of LTE networks – and also speed in these networks – do not reply to objectives of mobile broadband development and removal of digital disparity in Russia,” Tele2 Russia CEO Dmitry Strashnov said after the tender’s launch.
