Nokia sends four applications for export license to supply to Russia
Nokia is leaving Russia, but wants to supply MegaFon equipment (Photo:REUTERS/Yves Herman)
The Finnish telecommunications company Nokia has sent four applications for obtaining an export license for supplies to Russia, the head of the Russian mobile operator MegaFon, Khachatur Pombukhchan, said in an interview with the Russian RBC news agency on Dec. 5.
According to Pombukhchan, two applications were sent to European regulators, while another two were submitted to a U.S. regulator. He added that one of the applications had already been accepted.
At the same time, he confirmed that Nokia does not plan to return to the Russian market but wants to complete contractual obligations and supply equipment.
The share of Nokia equipment in the Russian market is 20-25%. All major telecom operators use the company’s equipment.
After Russia had launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Finnish company announced it would cease all supplies to Russia and would gradually reduce its business there.
Nokia’s Russian legal entities will reportedly be liquidated as the company’s obligations to clients are completed. It may take about a year after obtaining export licenses.
According to RBC, Nokia also recommended that its customers contact Russia’s Telesistemy Servis LLC for technical support of its equipment installed by mobile operators. Part of the employees of Nokia’s Russian entities will continue to work in this company.
According to an investigation conducted by The New York Times, Nokia helped the Russian authorities create a wiretapping system for phone calls, as well as intercepting messages and tracking other Internet communications.
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