(Telecompaper) Russian operator MTS announced an agreement to acquire NVision group. NVision is the developer and owner of the MTS billing system and one of the largest system integrators and IT providers in Russia. MTS is buying NVision from their parent company Sistema for an enterprise value of up to RUB 15 billion, including debt. In the first stage of the transaction, MTS has acquired the NVision subsidiaries Sitronics Telecom Solutions and NVision Czech Republic. The transaction gives MTS control over its billing system, which should help reduce time-to-market for new products and reduce billing and IT-related expenses, the operator said. NVision Group's expertise will enable MTS to accomplish three key objectives: improve service for MTS subscribers through enhancements to the billing platform; strengthen its position in the corporate market by offering clients complementary IT and integration solutions; and reduce spending on in-house IT through the realization of economies of scale. NVision counts over 200 customers and partnerships with the world's leading software developers and equipment vendors. Its projects include the deployment of IT infrastructure, implementation of control systems, re-engineering and automation of business processes, build-out of complex IT security systems and niche services using a cloud model.