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Mobile TeleSystems MTS is the largest mobile operator in Russia and CIS with over 89.64 million subscribers as of April 30, 2008.

Having started in the Moscow license zone in 1994, МТS in 1997 received licenses for further areas, and began expansion, later entering other countries of the CIS. On October 31 2008, Vodafone announced a partnership deal with MTS, whereby Vodafone services will be available to MTS subscribers; some form of co-branding will follow, and both companies have noted the potential for more efficient purchasing.

History

MTS was founded by Moscow City Telephone Network, Deutsсhe Telekom, Siemens AG and still several shareholders as the closed joint-stock company in October, 1993. Four Russian companies owned 53% of the stock, whereas two German companies had 47%. At the end of 1996 JSFC Sistema has got a stock pack from the Russian holders of stocks, and DeTe Mobil has redeemed stocks of company Siemens.

On March 1, 2000, as a result of a merger of JSC “MTS” and JSC “RTK”, OJSC Mobile TeleSystemswas formed. In April 28, 2000 the Federal commission under securities of the Russian Federation has registered initial stocks issue of OJSC “MTS”.

India

In 2008, Sistema formed 74:26 joint venture with India’s Shyam Group to form Sistema Shyam Teleservices , and acquired PAN-India license to provide CDMA services in the country. In March 2009, SSTL launched the MTS brand in state of Tamil Nadu, followed by neighboring state Kerala and W.Bengal in April and May respectively. At present MTS India present in 8 circles out of 22 telecom circles of India. AUSPI reports shows MTS gets a huge response in India due to its excellent competitive & cheaper tariff.

Media reports suggest that Russian government was planning to buy a 20% stake in SSTL for about $700 million.

About Basis

Founded in 1996,is a leading wholesale carrier of international long distance telephone calls and a provider of retail prepaid calling services and enhanced services for mobile operators. iBasis customers include KPN, KPN Mobile, E-Plus, BASE, TDC and many other large telecommunications carriers such as Verizon, Vodafone, China Mobile, China Unicom, IDT, Qwest, Skype, Telecom Italia, and Telefonica. In October 2007, iBasis acquired KPN Global Carrier Services to create one of the three largest carriers of international voice traffic in the world and KPN became a majority stockholder of iBasis. The company carried approximately 24 billion minutes of international voice traffic in 2008. The Company can be reached at its worldwide headquarters in Burlington

Operations

The MTS wireless network operates using the GSM standard. It currently holds licences to provide mobile services in 81 out of 83 regions in Russia and the entire territories of Armenia, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. MTS is currently the biggest mobile operator in Central and Eastern Europe.