OREANDA-NEWS. Tele2, an alternative mobile operator, and the Smolensk Region government have signed an agreement on cooperation in developing telecom sector. Under agreement, the company is planning to invest around 850 mn rubles into the region’s mobile infrastructure over the next five years.

The agreement has been signed by Tele2 CEO Mikhail Noskov and Smolensk Region Governor Aleksey Ostrovskiy. The document is seeking to lay foundation for cooperation between Tele2 and Smolensk Region’s government in telecom sector’s development, increase in investment into the region’s economy and implementation of social and economic projects.

The signing of the document implies a large-scale construction of new base stations and modernization of existing facilities, which will speed up the network rollout and development of high-speed wireless Internet. The agreement is also aiming to raise availability of mobile services in small and remote residential areas of Smolensk Region and on territories located along main federal thoroughfares. Thus, the agreement is solving important tasks on development of telecom technologies and support of socially oriented projects.

Mikhail Noskov, CEO at Tele2:

“The signing of the agreement with the Smolensk Region administration is a tangible embodiment of the Tele2 strategy that also implies formation of efficient mechanisms for cooperation with regional authorities. This interaction will also contribute to solving an important social task in Smolensk Region – to provide access to high-quality voice and high-speed wireless Internet at low prices. Tele2’s key task is to make high-quality and affordable mobile services available to as many residents of the region as possible.”

Aleksey Ostrovskiy, Smolensk Region Governor:

“Investment is crucial for dynamic development of any region’s economy. Investors are very responsive to economic and political situation in the region. That is why the main task of the authorities is to create most comfortable conditions for doing business. At the same time, it is absolutely necessary to strike a balance between interests of local residents and entrepreneurs of the region. The Smolensk Region administration is putting much effort into formation of competitive and efficient economic environment in order to guarantee a decent quality of living to our region’s residents.”