MTS mobile operator posts 155% rise in 2006 net profit

MOSCOW, May 18 (RIA Novosti) - Mobile TeleSystems [RTS: MTSS], said Friday its net profit calculated to Russian Accounting Standards (RAS) increased 155%, year-on-year, in 2006 to 32 billion rubles (about $1.2 billion).

Russia's No. 1 mobile phone operator said sales increased 50% in the reporting period to 116 billion rubles (about $4.5 billion) while pre-tax profits rose 140% to 43 billion rubles (about $1.7 billion).