MTS and VimpelCom Increase Mobile Internet Speeds Through Spectrum Sharing

MOSCOW, November 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Mobile TeleSystems PJSC ("MTS" or the"Company"- NYSE: MBT; MOEX: MTSS), the leading telecommunications provider in Russia and the CIS, and «VimpelCom"PJSC(Beeline brand) announce the start of spectrum sharing in 4G-network in Cherepovetz (Vologda region) whichallows to increase data transfer speeds available to the subscribers at peak speeds of 150 Mb/s. Vologda region became the first region where two operators united their spectrums within a large-scale project to jointly construct and utilize LTE networks in more than 30 regions in Russia.    

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Sharing of the operators' 10 MHz bandwidth in the 2600 MHz range spectrums will permit an increase in data transfer speeds over LTE networks up to a peak speed of 150 Mb/s.

In December 2015, MTS and VimpelCom signed an addendum to their agreement on the joint planning, development and usage of LTE networks, which they originally concluded in 2014 to unite their spectrum bands in 20 regions in Russia. In 2016, the list of the regions was expanded to 31. Apart from Vologda region, in 2016-2017, the operators plan to unite their spectrum resources in other regions.

The development of the project became possible due to adoption of amendments to the law "On Communications" that legislated the operator's right to jointly utilize spectrum.

"After two years of execution, our ambitious project with VimpelCom is entering its final stage - during the next year, we'll unite our LTE networks on shared spectrums in more than 30 regions. The project allows us to minimize costs on construction and utilizing of the base stations, decrease the timeline for network launch and what is more provide our subscribers with the higher mobile internet speeds in modern LTE networks", noted Andrei Ushatskiy, Vice President for Technology and IT.

In December 2014, MTS and VimpelCom signed a partnership agreement to jointly plan, develop and use LTE networks in Russia in 36 regions in Russia. Under the agreement, in 2014 - 2016, MTS develops shared mobile data networks in 19 regions in Russia, while VimpelCom constructs networks in 17 regions.The agreement will last seven years with an option of prolongation. During this period, operators will share base stations, sites, transport networks and other infrastructure. The agreement will not preclude either company from develop their own networks in addition to shared infrastructure in the designated regions.

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For further information, please contact in Moscow:

Joshua B. Tulgan
Director, Department of Corporate Finance and Investor Relations
Mobile TeleSystems PJSC
Tel: +7 495 223 2025
E-mail: ir@mts.ru

Learn more about MTS. Visit the official blog of the Investor Relations Department at http://www.mtsgsm.com/blog/

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Mobile TeleSystems PJSC ("MTS" - NYSE:MBT; MOEX:MTSS) is the leading telecommunications group in Russia, Central and Eastern Europe. We provide wireless Internet access and fixed voice, broadband and pay-TV to over 100 million customers who value high quality of service at a competitive price. Our wireless and fixed-line networks deliver best-in-class speeds and coverage throughout Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Turkmenistan and Belarus. To keep pace with evolving customer demand, we continue to grow through innovative products, investments in our market-leading retail platform, mobile payment services, e-commerce and IT solutions. For more information, please visit: http://www.mtsgsm.com.

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Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of MTS, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward looking statements by terms such as "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "will," "could," "may" or "might," and the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not undertake or intend to update these statements to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. We refer you to the documents MTS files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the Company's most recent Form 20-F. These documents contain and identify important factors, including those contained in the section captioned "Risk Factors" that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, the severity and duration of current economic and financial conditions, including volatility in interest and exchange rates, commodity and equity prices and the value of financial assets; the impact of Russian, U.S. and other foreign government programs to restore liquidity and stimulate national and global economies, our ability to maintain our current credit rating and the impact on our funding costs and competitive position if we do not do so, strategic actions, including acquisitions and dispositions and our success in integrating acquired businesses, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, our competitive environment, dependence on new service development and tariff structures, rapid technological and market change, acquisition strategy, risks associated with telecommunications infrastructure, governmental regulation of the telecommunications industries and other risks associated with operating in Russia and the CIS, volatility of stock price, financial risk management and future growth subject to risks.

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SOURCE Mobile TeleSystems (MTS)