MTS (telecommunications)

{{short description|Russian mobile network operator}} {{distinguish|MTC (disambiguation)#Telecommunications{{!}}MTC|Telekom Srbija{{!}}mts|Mobile Telephone Service|UMTS|Bell MTS}} {{Infobox company | name = Mobile TeleSystems PJSC (MTS) | logo = Logo МТС (2023).svg | logo_size = 200px | native_name = ПАО «Мобильные ТелеСистемы» (МТС) | type = [[Public company|Public]] ([[Joint-stock company|ПAO]]) | traded_as = {{MCX|MTSS}}

{{NYSE was| MBT}} (until 2022) | industry = [[Telecommunications]] | predecessor = [[Moscow City Telephone Network]] | founded = {{Start date and age|1993|10|08}} | founder = | hq_location = | hq_location_city = [[Moscow]] | hq_location_country = [[Russia]] | area_served = [[Russia]], [[Belarus]] | key_people = Vyacheslav Nikolaev (chairman & president) Inessa Galaktionova (CEO) | products = [[cellular network]], [[local telephone service]], [[broadband]], [[mobile television]], [[cable television]], [[satellite television]], [[digital television]] | brands = | services = | revenue = [[Russian ruble|₽]] 180 billion (Q3 2024)<ref name="2024q3"/> | operating_income = [[Russian ruble|₽]] 33 billion (Q3 2024)<ref name="2024q3"/> | net_income = [[Russian ruble|₽]] 61 billion (Q3 2024)<ref name="2024q3"/> | assets = [[Russian ruble|₽]] 1,426 billion (Q3 2024)<ref name="2024q3"/> | equity = | num_employees = 60,000+ | num_employees_year = 2021 | parent = [[Sistema]] | subsid = [[MTS Bank]] | website = {{URL|http://www.mts.ru/}} (Russia) {{URL|http://www.mts.by/}} (Belarus) | footnotes = }}

'''MTS''' ('''Mobile TeleSystems''') ({{langx|ru|МТС «Мобильные ТелеСистемы»}}) is the largest [[telecommunications company]] and mobile network operator in [[Russia]] and [[Belarus]], headquartered in [[Moscow]], operating on [[GSM]], [[UMTS]], [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]] and [[5G]] standards. Apart from cellular network, the company also offers [[local telephone service]], [[broadband]], [[mobile television]], [[cable television]], [[satellite television]] and [[digital television]].

As of Q3 2024, the company serves over 87.6 million subscribers in [[Russia]] (81.9 million) and [[Belarus]] (5.7 million).<ref name="2024q3">{{cite web |url=https://moskva.mts.ru/about/media-centr/soobshheniya-kompanii/finansovaya-otchetnost/2024-11-19/finansovye-i-operacionnye-rezultaty-gruppy-mts-za-3-kvartal-2024 |title=Финансовые и операционные результаты Группы МТС за 3 квартал 2024 |website=mts.ru|access-date=2025-01-30}}</ref> MTS had previously operated in [[Uzbekistan]] until 2012, [[Turkmenistan]] until 2017, [[Ukraine]] until 2015 and [[Armenia]] until 2024.

In 1994, a joint venture of [[Moscow City Telephone Network]], [[T-Mobile International AG|T-Mobile]] and [[Siemens]], which later [[Mobile TeleSystems|MTS GSM]] (Mobile TeleSystems) became part of Mobile TeleSystems (MTS), offered Russia's MTS GSM first mobile phone service "Mobile Telecommunications" ({{langx|ru|Мобильные ТелеСвязи}}) for the public in [[Moscow]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtsgsm.com/about/history/|title=History|access-date=15 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100309083948/http://www.mtsgsm.com/about/history/|archive-date=9 March 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the same year in June, [[VimpelCom]] also started [[Beeline (telecommunications)|Beeline]] mobile phone service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vimpelcom.com/about/history.wbp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026143245/http://vimpelcom.com/about/history.wbp|url-status=dead|title=History of VimpelCom|archive-date=October 26, 2009}}</ref> MTS, having started Mobile TeleSystems in the Moscow license zone in 1994, received licenses in 1997 for further areas and began expansion across Russia, later entering other countries of the [[Commonwealth of Independent States|CIS]].<ref name="ir2017">{{Cite web|url=http://s22.q4cdn.com/722839827/files/doc_financials/annual/2017/Annual_Report_2017.pdf|title=MTS - annual report 2017 - English ver.}}</ref>

In 2009, MTS acquired several independent mobile retail chains, creating MTS monobrand retail network of 3300 stores — the second largest retail network in Russia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-02-11 |title=МТС загрузил "Телефон.ру" |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1116931 |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=www.kommersant.ru |language=ru}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-09-07 |title=МТС приобрела салоны связи "Эльдорадо" » Бизнес » Главные истории » Новости » RB.ru |url=http://www.rb.ru/topstory/business/2009/04/01/160931.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907040831/http://www.rb.ru/topstory/business/2009/04/01/160931.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-09-07 |access-date=2022-12-18 }}</ref> Also in 2009 MTS started marketing MTS-branded mobile handsets. In 2010, MTS became the 5th best selling handset brand in Russia, after [[Nokia]], [[Samsung]], [[LG]] and [[Sony Ericsson]].{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

In 2010, MTS announced the acquisition of 62% of Comstar's stock, the largest Russian fixed internet and cable TV provider, serving 7.5 million households.<ref name="mts05">{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtsgsm.com/merger/|title=MTS Website - Merger|access-date=2010-12-16|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101214432/http://www.mtsgsm.com/merger/|archive-date=2011-01-01}}</ref> Comstar products were rebranded to MTS in 2010, forming the largest Russian mobile and fixed telecommunications brand. Until this purchase, MTS was presented at the fixed telephony market through its subsidiary [[Moscow City Telephone Network]] (MGTS).{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

In November 2013, the company launched the "Home Phone MTS" in [[Ryazan]], [[Oryol]], [[Kirov, Kirov Oblast|Kirov]], [[Krasnodar]], [[Rostov-on-Don]], and [[Yekaterinburg]]. The subscription fee for the wired telephone is 100 rubles. Per month, it includes unlimited calls to numbers of local fixed-line operators. The cost of calls to mobile numbers ranges from 1.1 rubles per minute, depending on the region. Before that, in several cities, such services are also provided by Comstar, a subsidiary of MTS.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comnews.ru/node/79879|title=МТС зафиксировалась в регионах~. Оператор займется местной связью - comnews|access-date=17 July 2015}}</ref>

During 2012–2013, MTS deployed [[Fiber to the x|FTTB]] network in nearly twenty new cities of the [[Far Eastern Federal District|Far East]], [[Siberian Federal District|Siberia]], [[Central Federal District|Central]], [[Volga Federal District|Volga]] and [[Ural Federal District|Ural]] federal districts. In 2012, MTS launched in cities where the [[Digital television|DTV]] signal standard is [[DVB-C]], and in December 2013, launched a project to provide fixed telephony services to the mass market in the regions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tdaily.ru/news/top-novosti/31763|title=Топ Новости - Хроники российского ШПД-2013 - Telecom Daily|access-date=17 July 2015}}</ref>

In 2013, [[Interregional TransitTelekom]] won a tender held by MTS to provide [[IPX/SPX|IPX]] services, and became one of the service providers for the company in the international telecommunications market. In November 2013, MTS began offering their Russian customers LTE [[roaming]] service, after such agreement were signed first with [[South Korea]]n operator [[SK Telecom]], and then with [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[Great Britain]].<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.comnews.ru/node/80380| title =МТС добралась до Туманного Альбиона| work =comnews.ru|date=29 January 2014| access-date = 30 January 2014}}</ref> Along with the construction of the fixed network, the company launched the [[DVB-C]] digital television standard in [[Ulan-Ude]], [[Blagoveshchensk]], [[Ussuriisk]] and [[Nakhodka]]. In November 2013, MTS completely switched to digital TV by connecting new subscribers, ending the connection to [[analogue television]].<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.comnews.ru/node/80698| title =МТС на 60% расширила фиксированную сеть на Востоке России | work =comnews.ru|date=14 February 2014| access-date = 15 February 2014}}</ref>

In March 2019, MTS launched an interactive media platform for cyber athletes and gamers called WASD.TV, and a mechanism for selecting players from the [[Gambit Esports|Gambit]] league to professional [[esports|e-sports]] teams.

On 17 September 2019, it was revealed that a storage device containing 1.7 terabytes of information related to MTS was exposed to the public internet in a data leak.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Гигантская утечка обнажила подробности тотальной слежки за абонентами МТС |url=https://www.cnews.ru/news/top/2019-09-19_gigantskaya_utechka_podtverdila |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=CNews.ru |language=ru}}</ref>

From 2019 onwards, MTS has worked on building out its [[5G]] networks in cooperation with [[Huawei]] as well as [[Ericsson]] and [[Nokia]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Schulze |first=Elizabeth |date=7 June 2019 |title=We don't believe US on Huawei, but we're still working with other firms, says Russian mobile giant |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/07/spief-2019-mts-ceo-defends-huawei-decision-but-working-with-others.html |website=[[CNBC]] |access-date=3 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Tišina |first=Yulia |date=11 September 2020 |title=Российский 5G сделают в Китае |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4485102 |website=[[Kommersant]] |access-date=3 January 2025}}</ref> In 2021, MTS and Huawei launched 5G networks at 14 pilot sites throughout [[Moscow]],<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=15 April 2021 |title=MTS and Huawei Launch Commercial 5G Experience in Moscow |url=https://www.huawei.com/en/news/2021/4/mts-launch-5g-commercial-2021 |website=[[Huawei]] |access-date=3 January 2025}}</ref> while MTS and Ericsson opened a 5G hub in [[Saint Petersburg]].<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=6 April 2021 |title=Ericsson partners with MTS to open St. Petersburg's first 5G Hub |url=https://www.ericsson.com/en/press-releases/3/2021/3/mts-opens-5g-hub-in-st-petersburg |website=[[Ericsson]] |access-date=3 January 2025}}</ref>

In 2022, the company's revenue amounted to 392 billion rubles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ПАО "МТС" |url=https://www.rusprofile.ru/id/2600460 |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=www.rusprofile.ru |language=ru}}</ref>

In January 2024, MTS, which previously owned a minority stake, increased its stake to 80.58% in the capital of the Urent scooter rental service, which provides services in more than a hundred cities in Russia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/65a5463e9a794795d665e4d2|title=МТС стала контролирующим акционером сервиса аренды самокатов Urent|language=ru|date=2024-01-15|website=[[RBK Group|RBC]]}}</ref>

===Branding=== In May 2006, MTS changed its logo as part of a rebranding campaign performed by its parent company, [[Sistema|AFK Sistema PAO]]. The logo now has two red squares next to each other. The left one, common in form (but not colour) to all AFK Sistema PAO's telecom subsidiaries, contains a white egg which symbolises simplicity and genius, while the right square bears the name of the company: МТС (MTS).{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}} In 2010, MTS announced acquisition of Sistema Telecom, the owners of the MTS "egg" logo, for $380 million, thus becoming the sole owner of the logo.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

In 2008, the MTS brand was included in the Top 100 World's Most Powerful Brands list by [[Financial Times]]/Millward Brown ranking, becoming the most valuable Russian brand.<ref name="mts08">{{Cite web|url=http://www.brandz.com/output/|title=Millward Brown Optimor website|access-date = 2010-12-16}}</ref> According to this ranking, in 2010, the MTS brand was the 72nd most valuable brand worldwide with a brand value of $9.7 billion. In 2010, MTS also became the most valuable Russian brand according to the Interbrand ranking.<ref name="mts09">{{Cite web|url=http://www.interbrand.com/ru/knowledge/BestRussianBrands2010RU.aspx|title=Interbrand website|access-date=2010-12-16|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218012051/http://www.interbrand.com/ru/knowledge/BestRussianBrands2010RU.aspx|archive-date=2010-12-18}}</ref>

<gallery widths=180> File:MTS logo 1993 - 2002.png|MTS logo 1993–2002 File:MTS logo 2002 - 2006.jpg|MTS logo 2002–2006 File:MTS logo 2006 - 2010.svg|MTS logo 2006–2010 File:MTS-2010.gif|MTS logo 2010–2019 File:MTS logo 2015.svg|MTS logo 2019–2023 File:MTS logo (2016).svg|MTS logo in the [[Latin alphabet]] </gallery>

===Operations=== As of March 2025, MTS in Russia operates on [[GSM]], [[UMTS]], [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]], [[Narrowband IoT|NB-IoT]] and [[5G NR]] standards.<ref>{{cite web |title=Наша сеть - МТС |url=https://moskva.mts.ru/personal/podderzhka/zoni-obsluzhivaniya/nasha-set/?on=g2 |access-date=10 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310134710/https://moskva.mts.ru/personal/podderzhka/zoni-obsluzhivaniya/nasha-set?on=g2 |archive-date=10 March 2025 |language=ru}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+Frequencies used on the MTS Russia Network |- ! [[Cellular frequencies|Frequency]] !! Band number !! Protocol !! Class !! Coverage across [[Federal subjects of Russia|89 federal subjects]] (As of March 2025) |- | '''900''' MHz || 8 || rowspan="2" |[[GSM]] || rowspan="2" | [[2G]] || rowspan="2"| Country-wide No service in: [[Republic of Crimea (Russia)|Crimea]], [[Sevastopol]], [[Luhansk People's Republic|Luhansk]], [[Donetsk People's Republic|Donetsk]], [[Zaporozhye Oblast (Russia)|Zaporozhye]], [[Kherson Oblast (Russia)|Kherson]] |- | '''1800''' MHz || 3 |- | '''900''' MHz || [[List of UMTS networks|8]] || rowspan="2" |[[UMTS]] || rowspan="2" |[[3G]] || rowspan="2"| Country-wide No service in: [[Saint Petersburg]], [[Leningrad Oblast|Leningrad]], [[Republic of Crimea (Russia)|Crimea]], [[Sevastopol]], [[Luhansk People's Republic|Luhansk]], [[Donetsk People's Republic|Donetsk]], [[Zaporozhye Oblast (Russia)|Zaporozhye]], [[Kherson Oblast (Russia)|Kherson]] |- | '''2100''' MHz || [[List of UMTS networks|1]] |- | '''800''' MHz || [[List of LTE networks|20]] || rowspan="5" |[[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]], [[Voice over LTE|VoLTE]] || rowspan="5" |[[4G]] || rowspan="5" |Country-wide No service in: [[Republic of Crimea (Russia)|Crimea]], [[Sevastopol]], [[Luhansk People's Republic|Luhansk]], [[Donetsk People's Republic|Donetsk]], [[Zaporozhye Oblast (Russia)|Zaporozhye]], [[Kherson Oblast (Russia)|Kherson]] |- | '''900''' MHz || [[List of LTE networks|8]] |- | '''1800''' MHz || [[List of LTE networks|3]] |- | '''2100''' MHz || [[List of LTE networks|1]] |- | '''2600''' MHz || [[List of LTE networks|7]] |- | '''800''' MHz || [[List of 5G NR networks|n20]] || rowspan="3" |[[Narrowband IoT|NB-IoT]] || rowspan="4" | [[5G]] || rowspan="3" |Country-wide No service in: [[Republic of Crimea (Russia)|Crimea]], [[Sevastopol]], [[Luhansk People's Republic|Luhansk]], [[Donetsk People's Republic|Donetsk]], [[Zaporozhye Oblast (Russia)|Zaporozhye]], [[Kherson Oblast (Russia)|Kherson]] |- | '''900''' MHz || [[List of 5G NR networks|n8]] |- | '''1800''' MHz || [[List of 5G NR networks|n3]] |- | '''4900''' MHz || [[List of 5G NR networks|n79]] || [[5G NR]] || [[Moscow]], [[Saint Petersburg]], [[Novosibirsk]], [[Altai Republic]]<ref>{{cite web |title=5G уже в Москве и Санкт-Петербурге! |url=https://5g.mts.ru/karta |access-date=10 March 2025 |language=ru}}</ref> |}

==MTS Belarus== In [[Belarus]], the MTS trademark renders services of cellular communication and data transmission of "Mobile TeleSystems JLLC (MTS)" ({{langx|be|СТАА «Мабільныя ТэлеСістэмы» (МТС)}}). The founders of this company are [[Beltelecom]] (51% of shares) and Russian MTS "Mobile TeleSystems OJSC" (49% of shares).<ref name="вед_03_11">{{cite web|author=Олег Сальманов.|url=http://www.vedomosti.ru/newspaper/article/256892/plati_milliard_ili_proigraesh|title=Плати миллиард, или проиграешь|publisher=// Ведомости, 21.03.2011, № 48 (2814)|access-date=2011-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424231529/http://www.vedomosti.ru/newspaper/article/256892/plati_milliard_ili_proigraesh|archive-date=2011-04-24|url-status=live}}</ref>

MTS Belarus began operations on 27 June 2002, and became the second Belarusian mobile operator after [[A1 Belarus]]. In the first four days, 2,300 subscribers were connected.<ref>[https://www.kp.by/daily/26580/3595965/ История телефонной связи в Минске: от «барышень» до LTE]{{dead link|date=March 2025}} «Комсомольская правда» в Белоруссии». 12 сентября 2016 г.</ref>

MTS Belarus subscriber numbers have the following formats: * +375 '''29 2''' xx xx xx, +375 '''29 5''' xx xx xx, +375 '''29 7''' xx xx xx, +375 '''29 8''' xx xx xx * +375 '''33 3''' xx xx xx, +375 '''33 6''' xx xx xx, +375 '''33 9''' xx xx xx With the introduction of the [[mobile number portability]] in Belarus, subscriber numbers may also have the following formats: +375 '''25''' xxx xx xx, +375 '''29''' xxx xx xx, +375 '''44''' xxx xx xx.

==Former operations== ===MTS Uzbekistan=== {{main|Uzdunrobita}} [[Uzdunrobita]] was the largest [[mobile phone operator]] in [[Uzbekistan]] in the 1990s and 2000s. Uzdunrobita was founded in 1991, as a joint venture between a group of American investors, the [[International Communications Group]], with a 45% stake; and the government of what was then the [[Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic]], with a 55% stake. When Uzbekistan declared independence several weeks later, the registration of the joint venture was shifted from [[Moscow]] to [[Tashkent]], with the government stake taken over by the independent Uzbek government.<ref name=mockler>{{cite book | author = Robert J. Mockler | title = Multinational Strategic Management | publisher = Haworth Press | year = 2002 | isbn = 0-7890-1475-0 | page = 80}}</ref>

The company first turned a profit in 1993. By 1996, it had $50 million in annual revenues, 7,000 subscribers, and employed 224 staff.<ref name=mockler /> [[Gulnora Karimova]] gained control of the firm in the late 1990s or early 2000s,<ref>{{cite book | author = Kathleen Collins | title = Clan Politics and Regime Transition in Central Asia | publisher = Cambridge University Press | year = 2006 | isbn = 0-521-83950-5 | page = [https://archive.org/details/clanpoliticsregi0000coll/page/271 271] | url = https://archive.org/details/clanpoliticsregi0000coll/page/271 }}</ref> and by 2005 it was 74% owned by Russia's MTS, which paid $121 million for the stake.<ref>{{cite book | author = Martin C. Spechler |author2=Dina R. Spechler | chapter = Conflict and Cooperation in Central Asia After 9/11 | title = Eurasia in Balance: The US and the Regional Power Shift | editor = Ariel Cohen | publisher = Ashgate Publishing | year = 2005 | isbn = 0-7546-4449-9 | page = 20}}</ref> In 2006 it was reported to have 250,000 subscribers, ahead of [[Daewoo Unitel]], which had 100,000, and some much smaller firms.<ref>{{cite book | author = Nikita E. Lisitsyn |author2=Sergei F. Sutyrin |author3=Olga Y. Trofimenko |author4=Irina V. Vorobieva | chapter = Russian Telecommunication Company MTS Goes to the CIS | title = Expansion or Exodus: Why Do Russian Corporations Invest Abroad? | editor = Kari Liuhto | publisher = Haworth Press | year = 2006 | isbn = 0-7890-3286-4 | page = 140}}</ref>

The company launched an LTE network on 2.6 GHz in July 2010,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2010/07/29/fourth-lte-network-goes-live-mts-launches-4g-in-tashkent/ |title=Fourth LTE network goes live: MTS launches 4G in Tashkent |publisher=TeleGeography |date=2010-07-29 |access-date=2013-07-06}}</ref> and received a license to expand it on 700 MHz in December 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2010/12/01/mts-gets-green-light-to-use-700mhz-band-for-lte-expansion/ |title=MTS gets green light to use 700MHz band for LTE expansion |publisher=TeleGeography |date=2010-12-01 |access-date=2013-07-07}}</ref>

The brand [[Universal Mobile Systems|UMC]] in [[Uzbekistan]] existed until mid-2007, when a major rebranding campaign took place, transforming UMC into MTS. In July 2012, authorities in Uzbekistan announced the suspension of the operating license of MTS's subsidiary [[Uzdunrobita]]. Officials argued that MTS-Uzbekistan has been responsible for a series of technical violations, and its operations have been suspended beginning on the evening of 17 July. According to the MTS, the suspension could affect millions of Uzbek mobile phone users. An MTS statement said the firm has some 10 million clients among Uzbekistan's population of 28 million.<ref>{{cite news|title=Uzbekistan Suspends MTS's License|url=http://www.satrapia.com/news/article/uzbekistan-suspends-mtss-license/|access-date=4 August 2012|newspaper=The Gazette of Central Asia|date=17 July 2012|publisher=Satrapia}}</ref>

In August 2012, the government of Uzbekistan revoked the company's operating license and arrested several of its top management, citing repeated regulatory violations. MTS protested the action as a "shakedown", but was unable to oppose it effectively, and moved to [[write down]] its stake.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://in.reuters.com/article/mts-uzbekistan-licence-idINL6E8JNI6120120824 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305225232/http://in.reuters.com/article/mts-uzbekistan-licence-idINL6E8JNI6120120824 | url-status=dead | archive-date=March 5, 2016 | title=Russia's MTS fights to save $1 bln Uzbek business | work=[[Reuters]] | date=August 24, 2012 | access-date=September 18, 2012}}</ref> After the case in September 2012, the company's assets were seized, and some of its executives sentenced to prison terms.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://in.reuters.com/article/mts-uzbekistan-idINL5E8KHLQ420120917 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306233539/http://in.reuters.com/article/mts-uzbekistan-idINL5E8KHLQ420120917 | url-status=dead | archive-date=March 6, 2016 | title=MTS says Uzbek unit assets confiscated by court | work=[[Reuters]] | date=September 17, 2012 | access-date=September 18, 2012}}</ref>

The [[Russian Foreign Ministry]] reacted and declared that Russia was concerned about the situation with Mobile TeleSystems' Uzbekistan subsidiary [[Uzdunrobita]], after Uzbek authorities suspended the mobile operator's license and put a senior official into custody. The dispute, which analysts fear may lead to MTS exiting the market, erupted at the beginning of 2012 when Uzbek authorities launched a nearly $1.3 million back-tax claim against MTS. MTS said in an emailed statement that the actions of the Uzbek authorities may be interpreted as "baseless attacks on the business of the Russian investor".<ref>{{cite news|title=Russian Foreign Ministry Concerned About Sanctions on MTS|url=http://www.satrapia.com/news/article/russian-foreign-ministry-concerned-about-sanctions-on-mts/|access-date=4 August 2012|newspaper=The Gazette of Central Asia|date=26 July 2012|publisher=Satrapia}}</ref> However, in 2019, The [[United States Department of Justice]] charged the firm for bribery to secure contracts in Uzbekistan. MTS agreed to pay a penalty of $850 million.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Uzbekistan - Contracts|doi = 10.1163/2213-2996_flg_com_198037}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-03-07|title=Ex-Uzbek Leader's Daughter Charged in $865 Million Bribery Scheme|language=en|work=Bloomberg.com|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-07/ex-uzbek-government-official-charged-in-bribe-scheme-in-ny|access-date=2020-09-09}}</ref>

===MTS Turkmenistan=== {{main|MTS Turkmenistan}} On 25 July 2012, MTS signed an agreement with the [[Turkmentelecom]] enterprise of the Ministry of Communications of Turkmenistan, which says that MTS Turkmenistan will, every month, pay to Turkmentelecom 30% of its net profit derived from operations in [[Turkmenistan]]. This agreement is for a term of five years and may be extended for an additional five years, subject to certain conditions. The company has also been granted GSM and 3G licenses for a three-year term.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mtsgsm.com/news/2012-07-26-29834/ |title=MTS Resumes Operations in Turkmenistan |access-date=2019-06-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701144754/http://www.mtsgsm.com/news/2012-07-26-29834/ |archive-date=2018-07-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[MTS Turkmenistan]] in September 2017 faced the potential termination of its permit to use the dedicated radio frequency spectrum and other required resources. The provision of communication services to subscribers in Turkmenistan was suspended due to a network shutdown and the absence of a successor.<ref name="ir2017"/> As of 2016, MTS-Turkmenistan had reached its peak with 1.7 million subscribers.<ref name="ir2017"/>

===MTS India=== {{main|MTS India}} In 2008, [[Sistema]] formed a 74:26 joint venture with [[India]]'s Shyam Group to form Sistema Shyam Teleservices (SSTL), and acquired a pan-India licence to provide [[CDMA]] services in the country. In March 2009, SSTL launched the [[MTS India]] brand in the state of [[Tamil Nadu]], followed by neighbouring states [[Kerala]] and [[West Bengal]] in April and May, respectively. Following the cancellation of its licences by the [[Supreme Court of India]], MTS is present in 9 circles out of 22 telecom circles of India. MTS India was acquired by [[Reliance Communications]] (RCom) on 14 January 2016 in an all-stock deal, in which SSTL received a 10% share in RCom. SSTL was merged into RCom on 31 October 2017.

===MTS Ukraine=== {{main|MTS Ukraine}} On 31 October 2008, [[Vodafone]] announced a partnership deal with MTS, whereby [[Vodafone]] services will be available to MTS subscribers, and both companies have noted the potential for more efficient purchasing, starting with operations in [[Ukraine]].

In October 2015, Mobile TeleSystems and Vodafone expanded their strategic partnership; this resulted in the [[rebranding]] of [[MTS Ukraine]] to [[Vodafone Ukraine]].<ref>[http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/economic/296684.html MTS Ukraine to operate under Vodafone brand], [[Interfax Ukraine]] (16 October 2015)</ref> MTS sold its Ukraine operations in 2019.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://ir.mts.ru/news-and-events/news/news-details/2019/MTS-Completes-Sale-of-Ukraine-Operations/default.aspx |title=MTS Completes Sale of Ukraine Operations |author=Mobile TeleSystems PJSC, Investor Relations Department |date=3 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227175550/http://ir.mts.ru/news-and-events/news/news-details/2019/MTS-Completes-Sale-of-Ukraine-Operations/default.aspx |archive-date=27 December 2019 |access-date=6 June 2022}}</ref>

===MTS Armenia=== {{main|Viva Armenia}} [[File:VivaCell MTS.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A VivaCell-MTS store in [[Yerevan]], [[Armenia]] in 2018]] In Armenia, services under the MTS brand were provided by K-Telecom CJSC, under the brand names {{ill|VivaCell-MTS|hy|ՎիվաՍել-ՄՏՍ}} (from 2007 to 2019) and Viva-MTS (from 2019 to 2024), 80% of which were owned by Mobile TeleSystems.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vivacell.am/index.php?menu=115&lng=3|title=VivaCell-MTS|publisher=// vivacell.am|access-date=2011-07-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103124527/http://vivacell.am/index.php?lng=3&menu=115|archive-date=2011-11-03|url-status=live}}</ref> The number of subscribers of VivaCell-MTS in Armenia by 31 March 2011, was 2.55 million. By May 2011, VivaCell-MTS occupied more than 60% of the mobile market in Armenia,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regnum.ru/news/fd-abroad/armenia/1408631.html|title=Сотовые операторы Армении и свобода выбора абонента: кому принадлежат телефонные номера|publisher=// regnum.ru|access-date=2011-05-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121205074712/http://www.regnum.ru/news/fd-abroad/armenia/1408631.html|archive-date=2012-12-05|url-status=dead}}</ref> and by December 2017, VivaCell-MTS had 2.1 million subscribers.<ref name="ir2017"/>

In January 2024, it was announced that MTS had sold its Armenian unit to Fedilco Group, selling 100% of its shares.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/mts-seals-exit-from-armenian-market/|title=MTS seals exit from Armenian market|access-date=2024-10-04}}</ref>

==See also== {{Portal|Telecommunications|Companies|Russia}} * [[List of mobile network operators in Europe]] * [[Mobile phone industry in Russia]] * [[Telecommunications in Russia]]

==References== <references />

==External links== {{commons category|MTS (network provider)}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110319033241/http://www.mtsgsm.com/ MTS Web Site (English)] *[http://www.mts.ru/ MTS Web Site (Russian)] *[https://www.google.com/finance/?btnG=Search&hl=en Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (ADR) - Google Finance]

{{Russian mobile phone companies}} {{Moscow Exchange Index}} {{Major telecommunications companies}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mobile Telesystems}} [[Category:MTS (network provider)| ]] [[Category:Telecommunications companies of Russia]] [[Category:Telecommunications companies of Armenia]] [[Category:Telecommunications companies of Ukraine]] [[Category:Telecommunications companies of Uzbekistan]] [[Category:Telecommunications companies of Turkmenistan]] [[Category:Telecommunications companies of India]] [[Category:Internet service providers of Russia]] [[Category:Mobile phone companies of Russia]] [[Category:Mobile phone companies of Belarus]] [[Category:Mobile phone companies of Uzbekistan]] [[Category:Mobile phone companies of Turkmenistan]] [[Category:Mobile phone companies of India]] [[Category:Companies based in Moscow]] [[Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1993]] [[Category:1993 establishments in Russia]] [[Category:Companies listed on the Moscow Exchange]] [[Category:Companies formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange]] [[Category:Companies in the MOEX]] [[Category:Russian brands]]