The launch is expected to fulfil the company’s licencing requirements, and Rostelecom aims to deploy LTE networks in eight regions by the end of the year.
The Winter Olympics are set to be held in Sochi in 2014, and Rostelecom is starting the next phase of its LTE roll-out here, as well as in Krasnodar and the Mountain and Coastal Clusters, where the games are also set to take place.
“LTE technology enables our customers to access the most up-to-date multimedia services including video playback (including HD), online games, maps and other interactive services,” said Alexander Shipulin, VP and director of Rostelecom-South.
“Therefore, many tourists, sportsmen and fans will be able to instantly share their videos of their holidays and the games.”
Other regions for LTE deployment in 2013 are said to include Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Yugra, Republic of Khakassia, Republic of North Ossetia–Alania, Sakhalin Oblast, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Nenets Autonomous Okrug and the Jewish Autonomous Oblast.
The roll-out follows Rostelecom’s recent appointment of Sergey Kalugin as its president.
