HELSINKI, Finland-A unit of Finish operator Sonera reportedly was awarded the third Global System for Mobile communications license in the Moscow metropolitan area for $25 million. Sonic Duo, held 35 percent by Sonera and 65 percent by Central Telegraph Mobile, won the license without a tender.
“Sonic Duo aims to become a leading provider and developer of GSM mobile communications services in the Moscow metropolitan area in Russia,” said Sonera. “The company aims to build a 900 frequency (dual-band) GSM mobile network in the Moscow area.”
Sonera will invest $300 million by 2010 for the wireless network and a mobile handset plant. The network will cover 60 percent of the Moscow region and have 15,000 subscribers by June 2001.
Vimpelcom and Mobile Telesystems currently operate GSM 900 networks in Moscow. Sonera said the Moscow metropolitan area has a population of 15 million, and the area’s mobile-phone penetration is 4 percent.
Central Telegraph Mobile is a subsidiary of Svyazinvest, which controls nearly every fixed operator in Russia.
