Digital min sees good points in possible Rostelecom-MegaFon merger

ALMATY, Feb 3 (PRIME) -- Any enlargement like a rumoured acquisition by Russian state-controlled telecom operator Rostelecom of mobile operator MegaFon carries risks for competition, but also has a significant cumulative effect, Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev said on Friday.

“It will enable us to raise territorial coverage, including the coverage of small towns thanks to redistribution of equipment,” Shadayev said.

He added that the connection operators service only their own subscribers now.

“If a decision on the merger of the operators is made, I am not ready to discuss now how it may be done, whether it will be Rostelecom and MegaFon or someone else, of course, it will…provide better coverage where needed,” the minister said.

Business daily Kommersant reported on Monday quoting sources that Rostelecom was in talks to buy MegaFon from USM Group.

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