OREANDA-NEWS. Tele2, a European mobile operator, and the Udmurtian government have signed an agreement on cooperation in developing telecom infrastructure and services.

On 5 March 2013, Tele2 Russia President Jere Calmes and Yuriy Pitkevich, head of the Udmurtian government, signed an agreement as a part of bilateral meeting in Izhevsk. Cooperation implies joint implementation of innovative projects in mobile services.

 These projects are aiming to boost economic development, improve investment climate in the region and solve social tasks.

 Tele2 is planning large-scale investment in Udmurtia’s telecommunications infrastructure in 2013-2015. They will total over 600 mn rubles. These funds will be used to expand coverage in remote and sparsely populated areas and increase network capacity in the villages. Tele2 now provides high-quality services at the territory where 95% of the republic’s residents live.

Jere Calmes, Tele2 Russia president:

“The Udmurtian government is creating favorable investment climate and provides support for telecommunications sector. These measures contribute to the republic’s overall economic growth. Udmurtia is one of Tele2’s key regions. Joint implementation of programs will let not only effectively meet people’s needs in high-quality mobile services but also improve standards of living in the region”.

Yuriy Pitkevich, Udmurtia Republic government:

“Republic’s authorities and business should join their efforts to improve availability of modern mobile services and standards of living. Reliable mobile connections should be considered as basic as the consumer basket services. We see Tele2 as a promising and reliable partner and our cooperation is targeted at primary targets”.

Tele2 is one of leading foreign investors into Russian telecommunications sector. Starting from 2003, Tele2 investment into Russian economy has exceeded 3 bn US dollars. Since 2010, direct investments into economy have totaled 250 mn US dollars.

 Along with investments into telecommunications sector, Tele2 is injecting funds into social projects aimed at developing skills of socially active people. The company carries out and supports partnership events in education, health, sports, culture and social sphere.