ROSTELECOM PJSC (RKMD)
ROSTELECOM PJSC: Rostelecom leading by the number of public WiFi hotspots
according to the 2019 TMT Consulting rating
06-Jul-2020 / 17:30 MSK
Dissemination of a Regulatory Announcement, transmitted by EQS Group.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Rostelecom leading by the number of public WiFi hotspots according to the
2019 TMT Consulting rating
Moscow, Russia - July 7, 2020 - Rostelecom PJSC (MOEX: RTKM, RTKMP; OTCQX:
ROSYY), the largest integrated digital service provider in Russia, today
announces that according to ratings provided by TMT Consulting, an
independent consulting agency (see link [1]), Rostelecom leads the market
for the number of public WiFi hotspots.
According to TMT Consulting, market volume for public WiFi hotspots grew by
23% over the last year in Russia to 166,000, all of which were launched and
managed by telecom operators. The market hit the total revenue mark of RUB 7
billion, up 12% compared to 2018.
The rating agency notes that Rostelecom became the leader in 2019 by the
number of operated WiFi hotspots - 45,100 in total excluding the Bridging
the Digital Divide project. Rostelecom's leading position in the market thus
equates to a 27% share of the entire public WiFi service market by the
number of hotspots which increased by 64% over the last year. The increase
in demand was coming predominantly from large companies operating in the
banking sector, as well as from the HoReCa segment.
Denis Ryabchenkov, Director of Product Management at the corporate and state
segment of Rostelecom PJSC, commented: "Rostelecom serves a wide range of
SMEs, banks as well as large corporations with its WiFi service which meets
the highest technological requirements and the quality of customer service.
It can be complemented with a whole complex of service model based
integrated solutions, including wired Internet connection, digital TV,
mobile communication and private virtual networks."
Today, wireless Internet access is considered completely essential to our
day to day living and communication. Rostelecom has extensive experience in
rolling out large distributed WiFi networks. Its technical capabilities were
first tested as part of the FIFA 2018 World Cup. The campaign saw the total
internet consumption scaled to 65Tbite capacity, making Rostelecom's free
public WiFi networks available to more than 144,000 users at the stadiums
and over 43,000 people in fan-zones across Russia. Individuals from 137
countries successfully passed the authorization process, with no registered
disruptions.
Further information is available at
https://www.company.rt.ru/en/ir/news_calendar/ [2].
* * *
Rostelecom [3] is the largest integrated digital services and products
provider, operating in all segments of the telecommunications market in
Russia. The Company serves millions of households, state and private
enterprises across the country.
Rostelecom is Russia's undisputed market leader, providing high-speed
Internet access and pay-TV. The total number of broadband users stands at
over 13.2 mln users, it has more than 10.5 mln pay-TV customers, over 5.7
mln of which are subscribed to Rostelecom's IPTV services. Tele2 Russia, a
Rostelecom subsidiary , is a major player in the mobile market with over 44
mln subscribers and the industry-leading NPS, a customer satisfaction
benchmark.
In the first quarter of 2020, the Group generated RUB 121.6 bln of revenues,
RUB 47.1 bln of OIBDA (38.7% of revenue) and RUB 7.7 bln of net income.
The Group is the leading provider of telecommunications services to
government bodies and corporates of all levels.
Rostelecom is a key strategic innovator that provides solutions in the
following fields: E-Government, cybersecurity, data-centers and cloud
computing, biometry, healthcare, education and housing & utility services.
The Group's stable financial position is confirmed by its credit ratings.
Rostelecom has been assigned 'BBB-' and 'BB+' international credit ratings
by Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor's respectively, and AA(RU) by ACRA.
* * *
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws and intended to be
covered by the safe harbours created thereby.
Those forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
? Assessment of PAO Rostelecom's (the Company) future operating and
financial results as well as forecasts of the present value of future cash
flows and related factors;
? The Company's plans to take ownership stakes in other organisations;
? the Company's anticipated capital expenditures and plans to construct
and modernize its network;
? the Company's expectations as to the growth in demand for its services,
plans relating to the expansion of the range of its services and their
pricing;
? the Company's plans with respect to improving its corporate governance
practices;
? the Company's expectations as to its position in the telecommunications
market and forecasts on the development of the market segments within
which the Company operates;
? economic outlook and industry trends;
? the Company's expectations as to the regulation of the Russian
telecommunications industry and assessment of impact of regulatory
initiatives on the Company's activity;
? other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts.
Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and
other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks,
uncertainties and other factors include:
? risks relating to changes in political, economic and social conditions
in Russia as well as changes in global economic conditions;
? risks relating to Russian legislation, regulation and taxation,
including laws, regulations, decrees and decisions governing the Russian
telecommunications industry, securities industry as well as currency and
exchange controls relating to Russian entities and their official
interpretation by regulatory bodies;
? risks relating to the Company, including the achievement of the
anticipated results, levels of profitability and growth, ability to create
and meet demand for the Company's services including their promotions, and
the ability of the Company to remain competitive in a liberalized
telecommunications market;
? technological risks associated with the functioning and development of
the telecommunications infrastructure, technological innovations as well
as the convergence of technologies;
? other risks and uncertainties. For a more detailed discussion of these
and other factors, see the Company's Annual Report and the Company's other
public filings.
Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or
predict. Given these and other uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on any of the forward-looking statements contained
herein or otherwise. The Company does not undertake any obligation to
release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements (which
are made as of the date hereof) to reflect events or circumstances upon the
annual report publication or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated
events, except as may be required under applicable laws.
ISIN: US7785291078
Category Code: MSCM
TIDM: RKMD
LEI Code: 2534001D752JPNM0H170
Sequence No.: 73931
EQS News ID: 1087099
End of Announcement EQS News Service
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
July 06, 2020 10:30 ET (14:30 GMT)
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