Vodafone has announced plans to enter Ukraine’s fixed-line market through the acquisition of two companies.
The first will see it buy 99.99% of Farlep-Invest, a private joint-stock company that operates under the brand name Vega, and the second at least 95% of the authorised capital of Cable TV-Finance. Farlep-Invest provides fixed internet and telephony services while Cable TV-Finance offers fixed internet services.
The two companies have a frequency resource in the 2.3 GHz band (15 MHz in six regions), as well as in the 2.5-2.7 GHz range.
According to Vodafone Ukraine, it intends to continue carrying out the same types of economic activities that are currently undertaken by the two companies, with its aim being to further develop the business in the telco field, including fixed-line services. It also says that the transactions will not lead to monopolisation or any restrictions in competition, given that the two companies’ market shares are small and the market is highly competitive.
Commenting on the acquisitions, the financial details of which have not been disclosed, Olga Ustinova, CEO of Vodafone Ukraine, said: “Entering the fixed line market will be one of the strategic priorities for Vodafone in the next two years.
“We plan to provide converged services, as consumers want to receive all services – mobile communications, mobile and home internet, television with guaranteed quality and convenient Vodafone service, to which our customers are already accustomed”.