The Russian cable operator Akado is to add long distance and international calls to the portfolio of services it offers.
Vedomosti reports that Akado, which is based in Moscow, has been awarded a licence for such services valid until 2019.
Furthermore, it will have to start providing the services, to corporate clients, no later than July 2014.
The licence to provide such services was held exclusively by Rostelecom up until 2006, since when several others have been issued.
The telco still controlled 47% of Russia’s long distance market as of the beginning of Q2 this year.