- MANNY PHAM
Armenia’s telecoms regulator the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) will reportedly block the proposed sale of MTS Armenia (Viva-MTS) due to national security concerns.
Local media outlet News.am claimed to have seen a draft of the agenda for the regulator’s next meeting which outlined a letter received from the Ministry of High-Tech Industry, stating concerns over the sale.
The buying company has not been revealed as PSRC chairman Garegin Baghramyan declined to relevel its identity but did disclose the deal does not involve one of the incumbent operators. MTS Armenia is a subsidiary of Russian operator group MTS.
“The petition was submitted also to the Ministry of High-Tech Industry, which shall hold discussions with the National Security Service to find out whether the transaction opposes national security issues,” said Baghramyan at the time.
Armenian media speculated the buyer of MTS Armenia bookmaker 1Xbet and Russian energy giant Gazprom as potential buyers, reported CommsUpdate.