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MTS Launches First Commercial LTE Network in CIS
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Russia’s Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) has launched its LTE network in Uzbekistan, using the 2.5-2.7 GHz frequency band, with the network equipment provided by China’s Huawei. The LTE services are currently available in the central part of Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. In the future, MTS plans to expand LTE coverage in other regions. The company expects that its advanced mobile broadband network is a key driver for growth, particularly in a region like Uzbekistan with relatively low-fixed line broadband penetration.

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (“MTS” – NYSE: MBT), the leading telecommunications provider in Russia and the CIS, announces the commercial launch of a 4G network based on the Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology in Uzbekistan – the first fully operational 4G network in the CIS and Central Asia.

The 4G network is currently deployed in the central part of Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, with the Company planning to significantly expand network coverage in the coming periods. The technology enables MTS subscribers to enjoy data transfer rates of up to 100 Mbps using LTE-enabled modems.

"The development of our networks is a key driver for growth, particularly in a region with relatively low-fixed line broadband penetration. By bringing LTE to the market, we can offer both our business and individual customers the fastest, most reliable broadband access in the region. The introduction of LTE in Uzbekistan will also allow MTS to gain valuable insight from this unique experience and eventually apply it to other markets of operation in the future," commented Mr. Оleg Raspopov, Vice President and Head of Business Unit MTS Foreign Subsidiaries.

The network is deployed in the 2.5-2.7 GHz frequency range following receipt of the license by MTS Uzbekistan in October 2009. The equipment for the 4G network was supplied by Huawei, a leader in providing next-generation telecommunications network solutions for operators around the world.
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Mobile TeleSystems OJSC ("MTS") is the leading telecommunications group in Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, 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 103.4 million mobile subscribers in Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia and Belarus, a region that boasts a total population of more than 230 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