TeliaSonera expands Eurasian footprint

Nordic operator TeliaSonera is to acquire US firm MCT, which has controlling interests in three Eurasian GSM carriers and a minority stake in Afghan operator Roshan.

TeliaSonera expects the deal to close during Q3 this year. As well as Roshan, TeliaSonera will gain presence in Uzbekistan, through third placed operator Coscom and Tajikistan, through Indigo-Tajikistan and Somoncom.

TeliaSonera operates in 14 markets and already has presence in Eurasia. It owns 74 per cent of Fintur Holdings, which provides mobile services in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova.