FAS, the Russian anti-monopoly authority, rejected the bids of MTS and MegaFon, two leading Russian mobile operators, to acquire New Telephone Company (NTC), a major mobile, fixed and IP telephony and internet operator based in Vladivostok.
As a consequence, VimpelCom, another leading Russian operator, is the only bidder left in the running.
The only other potential bidder, Tele2 Russia, the subsidiary of a Swedish telecommunications group, has abandoned the idea of acquiring NTC.
According to estimates by AC&M-Consulting, a Russian consultancy specialized in telecommunications and media, NTC controls 40% of the market in the Vladivostok region. The market shares of MTS, MegaFon and VimpelCom amount to 28%, 24% and 1%, respectively.
Korea Telecom, a South Korean fixed-line and mobile operator, and Sumitomo, a Japanese corporation operating in a variety of business fields, are selling their respective 80% and 20% stakes in NTC.
Source: Vedomosti
