OREANDA-NEWS.   Tele2, an alternative mobile operator, and the Voronezh Region government have signed an agreement on cooperation in developing telecom sector. As a part of the document Tele2 is planning to invest over 400 mn rubles in developing the region’s mobile infrastructure for a year and a half.

The agreement has been signed by Voronezh Region acting Governor Aleksey Gordeev and Tele2 CEO Mikhail Noskov.

The agreement is seeking to boost cooperation between Tele2 and Voronezh Region government in developing mobile infrastructure and implementation of joint social and economic projects.

According to the document, Voronezh Region will be one of the key regions to launch broadband Internet. Besides, Tele2 will continue investing funds in increasing capacities and reliability of the current 2G.

The agreement is solving an important social task – to expand coverage and increase capacity of network to provide low-cost mobile services. This investment project implies both large-scale construction and modernization of the current network facilities.

Mikhail Noskov, CEO at Tele2:

“Voronezh Region is one of the key regions for Tele2 development. Voronezh will be one of the first regions where the company will start providing broadband services on 3G and 4G LTE networks. Tele2 is focused on long-term investment, which is proved by acquisition and successful integration of Kodotel regional operator. We will also continue supporting programs of the region’s administration aimed at economic development and social sphere.”

Aleksey Gordeev, Voronezh Region acting Governor:

“Tele2 entered the region at hard times from the point of economic development but you believed in it and saw its potential. We are grateful to you for this. We suggest that we promote our cooperation.”

Tele2 services are available to around 97% of Voronezh Region residents, whereas around 86% of the region’s territories are covered by the network.

Let us remind you that this agreement between Tele2 and the Voronezh Region government is not the first one. In compliance with the previous agreement that has been signed in 2012, the company invested over 450 mn rubles in the network’s development. Staring from Tele2 launch in Voronezh Region in 2005 the company has invested around 2 bn rubles. The company paid 900 mn rubles in taxes since 2011.

Today Mikhail Noskov took part in an opening ceremony of the IV Interregional Information Technologies Forum in Voronezh. The forum has been opened by Voronezh Region’s acting Governor Aleksey Gordeev.

In his greeting speech Mikhail Noskov pointed out that the forum became the main professional platform for discussions in the Black Erath Belt. He added that participation of Tele2 in it for 4 years in a row was very productive.

Deputy Minister for Communications and Mass Media Aleksey Kozyrev, representatives of ministries and agencies, Voronezh Region governments, directors of major communications and IT companies are working in the region.