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Weekly Lists
November 16, 2018 www.intellinews.com I Page 25
bne:TMT
4G growing fast in CEE with mobile penetrations running ahead of the global average
Russian lottery operator S8 continues online expansion with Price.ru buy from Rambler
The digital economy and telecoms services are growing faster than the global average in Russia and 11 neighbouring countries, a report from the research branch of international mobile operator association GSMA has found, East-West Digital News (EWDN) reported.
The report covers Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Geor- gia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
The region was home to 232mn unique mobile subscribers at the end of 2017, which corresponds to a rather high penetration rate of 80% vs. the global average of 66%. The three largest markets – Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan – together account for 80% of the region’s total subscriber base. With 89% of the population subscribing to mobile services, Russia is one of the most highly penetrated countries in the world.
Armen Sarkissian's Russian lottery monopolist S8 Capital will acquire 100% in the Price.ru marketplace from internet major Rambler Group, Kommersant daily reported on November 14 citing sources on both sides of the deal. The amount of the deal is not of- ficially disclosed, but could amount to $12mn.
S8 could be an emerging player in the Russian online services field. Before the Price.ru acquisition, Kommersant also reported that the lottery operator is to launch an online car leasing service named Next.Car.
Rambler representative Rafael Abramyan commented to Kommer- sant that Price.ru was a non-core asset for the group which focuses on content and streaming services.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called on the Bulgarian au- thorities to stop harassing Ivo Prokopiev, the owner of local inde- pendent media group Economedia, claiming that any media that dares to oppose those in power is being attacked in the country.
“Sometimes the oligarchs use tabloids, news sites and TV stations to smear opposition media. Sometimes the authorities resort
to judicial harassment to stifle independent media voices. The constant controls, attacks and confiscations designed to prevent these media from functioning must stop at once,” Pauline Adès- Mével, the head of RSF’s European Union and Balkans desk, said in the statement.
RSF calls on the Bulgarian authorities to stop harassing owner of independent media group