Press Release

MTS and Samsung Build the first LTE network in Northwest region of Russia

Sep 26. 2013

Moscow, Russia - September 26, 2013 - OJSC "Mobile TeleSystems" (MTS - NYSE: MBT), the leading telecommunications operator in Russia and the CIS, and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd today announced completion of the first stage of MTS LTE network in Russia’s Pskov region and the beginning of the testing of 4G network services.

 

By the end of 2013, 4G mobile Internet with data transfer rates up to 75 Mbit/s will be available to residents of the following cities: Pskov, Velikie Luki, Ostrov, Nevel, Opochka, Novosokolniki, Pustoshka and a number of other population centers of Pskov region. New network will operate in LTE FDD standard and will provide high-speed Internet access for users of smartphones, tablets and modems from the leading vendors.

 

The LTE FDD network rollout in Russia’s Northwest Federal District is a part of the three-year agreement signed between MTS and Samsung in 2013. During the 2013-2014 MTS 4G networks will be rolled out in Saint-Petersburg, Leningrad, Arkhangelsk regions and the Komi Republic. Currently, MTS’ own LTE networks operate in Moscow, Tambov regions and the Udmurt Republic.

 

MTS’ subscribers in Pskov region are very active users of data services; Internet traffic in MTS network in the region has doubled since last year. MTS is the leader of the mobile market in Pskov region, and we continue to actively invest in developing new technologies to ensure customers growing needs in fast Internet. I'm glad that Pskov’ residents will be the first in Northwest region to evaluate the speed of MTS 4G network and I believe that with the emergence of a large number of smartphones supporting fourth-generation networks more people in Pskov region will be able to use high speed mobile Internet, "- said the director of MTS in the regions of North-West Kirill Dmitriev.

 

We are delighted to partner with MTS to deploy this LTE network. This is a significant milestone for us in accelerating our network business in Russia and the wider CIS region. Samsung has accrued significant achievements in the most advanced and active LTE markets such as large scale deployment in the U.S. and Japan, and the world’s first LTE-Advanced commercialization in South Korea. We strongly believe that the expertise gained from these ventures will benefit MTS and ourselves in bringing an advanced 4G LTE experience to Northwest Russia», - said IP Hong, Vice President and Head of Europe and CIS Sales at Samsung Networks Business.

 

MTS Public Relations
Dmitry Solodovnikov
Tel.: (495) 766-00-25
e-mail: pr@mts.ru

 

Samsung Public Relations
Nina Demyanova
Mob.: +7 915 052 39 71
e-mail: demyanova.n@samsung.com

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 236,000 people across 79 countries with annual sales of US$187.8 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.

About Mobile TeleSystems OJSC

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC ("MTS") is the leading telecommunications group in Russia, Central and Eastern Europe, offering mobile and fixed voice, broadband,pay TV as well as content and entertainment services in one of the world's fastest growing regions. Including its subsidiaries, the Group services over 100 million mobile subscribers in Russia, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Armenia and Belarus, a region that boasts a total population of more than 200 million. Since June 2000, MTS' Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol MBT). Additional information about the MTS Group can be found at www.mtsgsm.com.

 

Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of MTS, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward looking statements by terms such as "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "will," "could," "may" or "might," and the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not undertake or intend to update these statements to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. We refer you to the documents MTS files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the Company’s most recent Form 20-F. These documents contain and identify important factors, including those contained in the section captioned "Risk Factors" that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, the severity and duration of current economic and financial conditions, including volatility in interest and exchange rates, commodity and equity prices and the value of financial assets; the impact of Russian, U.S. and other foreign government programs to restore liquidity and stimulate national and global economies, our ability to maintain our current credit rating and the impact on our funding costs and competitive position if we do not do so, strategic actions, including acquisitions and dispositions and our success in integrating acquired businesses, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, our competitive environment, dependence on new service development and tariff structures, rapid technological and market change, acquisition strategy, risks associated with telecommunications infrastructure, governmental regulation of the telecommunications industries and other risks associated with operating in Russia and the CIS, volatility of stock price, financial risk management and future growth subject to risks.