STOCKHOLM -- Ericsson has been awarded a USD 70 million GSM network expansion frame agreement by MTS, Mobile TeleSystems, the largest cellular operator in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. The agreement covers deliveries until the end of 2004.
The equipment supplied under agreement will increase network capacity and coverage in the Krasnodar region, Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Siberia (Novosibirsk and Tomsk regions, as well as in Irkutsk), and on the Far East (in Vladivistok and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk).
Ericsson will deploy the AXE810 switching platform and the GSM base stationsRBS2206 and RBS2307 for network expansion. These base stations have built-in EDGE functionality and will provide a smooth migration to this technology when it is licensed in Russia.
"Signing of such a contract proves MTS trust in the quality of Ericsson's equipment and the professionalism of our specialists. We are grateful for this trust and will do our utmost to provide our partner MTS and its subscribers with top class communications, which the MTS network built on Ericsson equipment can offer," said Alexander Andrianov, Vice President of Ericsson, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Ericsson AB
Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (MTS)