Vodafone Group plc, the world's biggest cell-phone operator, added another 87 million potential users to its customer base, including 60 million in the fast-growing Russian market. The British firm created a
nonequity partnership with Mobile TeleSystems OJSC to provide customers with communications services and to collaborate jointly on future technological developments. Specifically, MTS will use Vodafone's expertise in building and developing third generation, or 3G, networks and mobile broadband products.
MTS is the largest mobile phone operator in Russia and the CIS, and with this deal it will get exclusive access to a range of products, services and devices from Vodafone for its markets of operation in Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Armenia. The Register notes Vodafone has
more than 40 partners of this kind around the world, particularly in Eastern Europe, where products are dual-branded, and the strategy has proved successful.
Vodafone, which jointly owns a
lucrative Verizon Wireless with New York's Verizon Communications, has been establishing a base in Africa in recent months. In July, Vodafone said it was buying a
70% stake in fixed-line and mobile operator Ghana Telecommunications Co. from the government for $900 million. And earlier in October, it made a nonbinding proposal to acquire an additional
15% stake in Vodacom Group Ltd. for 22.5 billion South African rand, or $2.46 billion, in cash. That would give it a 65% holding.
Most recently from Vodafone dealmaking, on Wednesday it acquired an
additional 4.8% stake in Polkomtel SA, a telecommunications operator in Poland, from TDC A/S for a total cash consideration of €176 million ($228 million) in cash. -
Baz HiralalSee the Vodafone-MTS press releaseVodafone Acquires Additional Stake in PolkomtelAlso: Read more on telecom deals from around the globe
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