The giant Russian telecom company MTS has announced an advertising service targeting Telegram users

Russia's largest telecommunications company MTS says it will launch an advertising service targeting Russian Telegram users, but the social messaging app denies any deal.

The company announced that it will launch its advertising service to customers on October 17, targeting audiences in specific channels, categories, interests and geographic areas. MTS clearly states that the service is aimed at the phone numbers of Russian operators.

Telegram spokesman Remi Vaughan told Cointelegraph that the company has not entered into any advertising agreements with any Russian-based companies, including MTS.

“They may have access to Telegram's ad platform features through one of the international advertising agencies we work with, but we can confirm that there is no partnership or agreement between Telegram and MTS.”

MTS will allow users to be directed to external websites and applications by promoting the details of the new service in Telegram, groups and bots, as well as messages linking to external sources in Telegram advertising.

MTS described the service as a way to turn Telegram into a “high-trust performance tool” that can reach an audience of 55 million Russians every day.

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A statement from MTS advertising director Elena Melnikova reiterated that the launch of the service will allow customers to target Telegram users based on various external user data.

“Russian businesses and advertising agencies can advertise in Telegram based on external data – MTS Big Data units, their own CRM systems, based on phone numbers.”

The service also includes a minimum budget limit exclusion, meaning users can create and run ads for any amount. For small and medium businesses, the cost per message for their respective databases is set to be fixed at 90 kopecks ($0,0092).

MTS also reports that Telegram ads that are launched through the MTS Marketer service comply with Russian advertising laws. MTS serves more than 80 million subscribers in its Russian mobile business.

Cointelegraph has reached out to MTS to clarify the details of the service and whether it has a formal agreement with Telegram or is alternatively offering the service through third-party advertising agencies.

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