Russian mobile operators Beeline and Megafon have signed an agreement to jointly develop and operate LTE networks, with new base stations supporting LTE to be deployed in 10 regions. Construction and operation costs will be divided between the two companies. The launch of the network is scheduled for the second quarter of the year.
The deployment of more than 1,300 additional LTE-enabled base stations in the Smolensk, Belgorod, Voronezh, Lipetsk, Bryansk and Archangel regions, Karelia republic and other regions of the joint 4G development programme, will contribute to reducing the digital divide in Russia, the companies said.
This is Beeline's second agreement to share infrastructure in order to support network development. In December it announced plans to expand a trial with MTS to share LTE spectrum in 20 regions of Russia.
Source: http://www.telecompaper.com/news/beeline-megafon-to-jointly-develop-use-lte-network--1125028