MTS, MGTS invest 15 bln rbl in Moscow Region network in 2016

MOSCOW, Feb 8 (PRIME) -- Russian mobile operator MTS and its fixed-line unit, MGTS, invested 15 billion rubles in 2016 in the development of connection infrastructure in the Moscow Region, the companies said on Wednesday in a joint press release.

MTS’ 2G coverage approached 100% in 2016, and the operator’s coverage with all standards of connection amounted to 99% inside the Moscow Ring Road. Coverage with the 3G and LTE standards beyond the circle reached 80% and 50% respectively, MTS said.

The mobile operator built 2,800 base stations in 2016, including 2,000 LTE units. MTS expanded the fiber optic line in the Moscow Region by over 550 kilometers to 20,000 kilometers. Mobile Internet traffic more than doubled in the reported period, while voice traffic remained flat, and the number of SMSs declined 15%.

“We intend to cover all federal thoroughfares and equip all railway lines linking cities-satellites fully with LTE until the end of the year,” Igor Yegorov, director of MTS’ regional branch, said at a news conference.

Fixed-line Internet traffic in Moscow doubled in 2016. MGTS’ users spent in the Internet five hours and a half per day in 2016, which is half an hour more than in 2015.

(59.1933 rubles – U.S. $1)

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