The growth compared to the beginning of 2015 made up 2.25 times. The operator provided services to 188,100 subscribers at the end of 2014. MTS forecasted that subscribers’ base of UMS will grow to 1.15 million users.

The company said that UMS revenue made up 19.5 billion soums in the first quarter of 2015 against 4.5 billion soums in the fourth quarter of 2014. Operational loss of the company in the first quarter was 86.048 billion soums and net loss – 41.853 billion soums.

Operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBDA) made up minus 38.819 billion soums in the reporting period. MTS forecasts that UMS will record positive OIBDA in 2016.

Average monthly minutes of usage per subscriber (MOU) made up 356 minutes in the first quarter of 2015 against 445 minutes in the fourth quarter of 2014. Average bill for a mobile subscriber per month (ARPU) reached 21,027 soums.

As reported earlier, UMS started to render mobile communication services across Uzbekistan from 1 December 2014.

MTS (50.01%) and Center for Radio Communication, Broadcasting and Television (CRBT) (49.9%) are founders of the venture.

The joint venture will operate on the basis of assets, equipment and infrastructure, which were previously owned by Uzdunrobita FE LLC, a former subsidiary of MTS in Uzbekistan, and which will be transferred to this newly established joint venture.

According to MTS, Universal Mobile Systems LLC received 2G/3G/LTE licenses, a frequency range, a numbering capacity and other permits for operation, as well as investment guarantees under Uzbek legislation.

MTS Uzbekistan worked in Uzbekistan till the summer 2012. In 2012, Uzbek Communication Agency suspended its licenses and later the court abolished its licenses.