Russia’s VimpelCom head says consolidation on cell market unlikely

MOSCOW, Feb 17 (PRIME) -- The Russian mobile connection market will unlikely see any consolidations, Mikhail Slobodin, general director of cellular operator VimpelCom, working under the Beeline brand, told reporters Wednesday.

“Hypothetically, everything is possible, but practically – not. There are reasons why it is unlikely, but, unfortunately, we cannot disclose them. I mean options of consolidation at this stage. It’s our opinion,” Slobodin said.

Business daily Vedomosti earlier reported quoting sources that VimpelCom discussed a merger with mobile operator T2 RTK Holding, working under the Tele2 brand, at the end of 2015.

Rating agency Fitch said earlier that the Russian telecommunications market would see consolidation during the coming two–four years and only three operators would remain out of the existing four leaders: MTS, MegaFon, VimpelCom and Tele2.

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