OREANDA-NEWS. August 07, 2008. "The coverage area of 3G networks makes it possible to use such services as video calls and high-speed Internet access, while mobile TV and 3G roaming will be available for clients by the end of the year", Director of MTS Volga-North West Fedor Bobkov said at a press conference.

According to Bobkov, MTS mobile's subscriber base will reach 25% both in Nizhny Novgorod and in the country as a whole by 2010.

He also noted that a 3G network was commissioned in Kazan on June 2. 7% of MTS's 30,000 customers in the Republic of Tatarstan use the new technology and the proportion should rise to 11% by the end of the year.

He noted that 5% of RUB 38 bn allocated by the company to roll out 3G in the Russian regions has been spent so far. "By 2011 we expect to generate USD 2.5 bn from using this technology by boosting traffic", Bobkov said.