MTS and Korea’s KT Corp to Cooperate in Data Centers, AI Solutions, Media Content

February 9, 2022

MOSCOW, Russia – Mobile TeleSystems Public Joint Stock Company (“MTS” or “the Company”) (NYSE: MBT; MOEX: MTSS), Russia’s largest mobile operator and a leading provider of media and digital services, together with KT Corporation (“KT”), a leading Korean company in information and communications technology (ICT), have signed a memorandum of strategic cooperation to develop new business directions, including building data centers and joint AI-based solutions, as well as media content projects.

According to the terms of the agreement, MTS plans to leverage KT’s expertise as Korea’s largest data center operator in building and managing MTS’s cloud facilities in Russia. In addition, the companies plan to strengthen their strategic partnership in developing joint solutions leveraging AI technology, combining KT’s GiGa Genie voice recognition service and MTS AI’s solutions in video analytics. The memorandum also provides for joint production and global distribution of media content under a partnership between MTS’s KION multimedia platform and KT’s subsidiaries StudioGenie and Seezn.

MTS President & CEO Viacheslav Nikolaev commented: “MTS has gained the opportunity to learn from and work together with our Korean partners, who bring first-rate expertise in localizing data processing and storage for global internet services. On our side, MTS’s ecosystem can offer unique capabilities in developing and deploying computer vision and video analytics, which are of interest to our partners. And, of course, MTS and KT’s combined audience of tens of millions of viewers can get expanded access to Russian and Korean films — and in the future to our joint media content.”

KT President Yun Kyounglim said: “By collaborating with MTS, Russia’s largest telecom operator, we have the opportunity to expand Digico KT’s capabilities globally. Based on Korea’s best IDC business competency and AI capability accumulated by AI One Team, we will make our best efforts to lead the global market, and we look forward to contributing to the cultural development of the two countries by sharing K-contents recognized worldwide.”

About KT Corporation

KT Corporation is one of South Korea’s largest providers of integrated wireline and wireless telecom services and a provider of ICT solutions. By the end of 2020, KT Group served 57.2 million customers, including 22 million mobile subscribers, 14.2 million fixed-line subscribers, 9 million fixed broadband users, and 12 million pay TV subscribers.

KT’s operations span subsidiaries, branches, and representative offices in 15 countries. KT Group develops and offers solutions across video analytics and security, artificial intelligence, information technology, and media and e-sports. The company operates a network of data centers in Korea and other Asian countries that host a variety of digital services. KT operates the Seezn TV streaming platform and produces video content under its subsidiaries KT Alpha, Skylife TV, and Studio Genie.