Russia’s fixed line incumbent, Rostelecom, has been casting around for partners to ease its path into the mobile market. Although the company has its own spectrum now, and a potential RAN sharing deal with LTE network wholesaler Yota, it has no existing mobile customer base or roll-out experience, so further alliances could reduce its cost and risk.
Its latest talks are with Tele2, according to local reports, and the two firms could agree a mutual MVNO arrangement. Rostelecom CEO Sergei Kalugin told the Prime news agency: ‘We are trying to agree on the MVNO model with Tele2 Russia. It does make sense.’ It would involve Rostelecom providing 3G network access to the formerly Swedish-owned operator, which would in turn, offer capacity on its 2G systems. Tele2 has repeatedly been denied a 3G licence or rights in capital Moscow.
Last month, state-backed Rostelecom was said to be in talks with Antares Telecom about LTE deployment collaboration. Obscure operator Antares won 1.9GHz spectrum back in 2008 and has planned to use it for LTE, but its plans to gain a headstart over the established cellcos ran into legal disputes. Along with sister firms Arktur and Integral, Antares received the 1.9GHz frequencies on the basis that the State Radio Frequency Commission (SRFC) had designated them as suitable for future LTE roll-out. But when it tried to run a 4G trial in Moscow, the authorities prevented it.