Yerevan, July 24 /Mediamax/. The owners of 90% share of the Armenian telecommunications operator ArmenTel will be the Russian AFK “Sistema” Holding and the international consortium, set up by Indian VTEL Holdings and Knightsbridge Associates, owned by one of well-known Armenian businessmen.

The Russian ComNews internet edition reported this today citing a source which is close to the tender. According to the report, the Russian company will manage ArmenTel’s fixed telephone business, whereas the international consortium - the mobile one, Mediamax reports.

Irina Potekhina, Director of “Sistema” Public Relations Department, neither confirmed nor turned down this information. According to her, the tender results will be endorsed only in early August.

ComNews also claims that the Russian Altimo company, which manages the telecommunications assets of “Alfa-Group” and is the shareholder of “Beeline” mobile operator, has indirectly provoked the tender for selling 90% share of ArmenTel. According to ComNews, still in September 2005, Altimo offered $360mln to the Greek OTE Corporation for 90% share of ArmenTel, but “having received Altimo’s proposal the Greek side began to view it only as a starting sum.”