MOSCOW, July 16. /ITAR-TASS/. Standard & Poor’s has raised the long-term credit ratings of Russia’s Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) from BB+ to BBB-, with a negative outlook.

The decision was made after the upgrade of MTS’ parent company AFK Sistema from BB to BB+.

S&P expects MTS to expand its operations on the Russian telecommunications market and increase income from data transmission services.

It projects a moderate decline in the company’s income in 2014 partly due to the worsening of the economic situation in Russia and Ukraine.