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______________________________ National Telecommunications Operator
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04/04/2005 BELARUS SEES GSM PHONE USER
NUMBER GROW 13.7% IN JANUARY-MARCH
(on the
information from Interfax) According to the cellular communication companies,
the number of active users of GSM cell phone services in Belarus grew 13.7%
in January-March 2005 to exceed 2,670,000 as of April 1. At present, there are two mobile communication
companies catering to the Belarusian market: the Mobile Digital Communication
(MDC, Velcom trademark) and Mobile TeleSystems LTS. As of March 1 the number of GSM users in the MDC
network exceeded 1,280,000, 12.8% up against January 1 2005. In March alone
the number of GSM users grew 4.9%. The number of registered users in the MTS network
exceeded 1,390,000 as of March 1, 14.5% up against January 1. In March the
number of users increased by 5.3%. 31/03/2005 MPOVT
TO SELL 75,000 BETA M25 EXCHANGES IN BELARUS IN 2005
(on
the information from Interfax) "Minsk Production Association of Computer Engineering
Techniques" (MPOVT) Open Joint Stock Company (OPSC) plans to float up to
75,000 automatic exchanges Beta M25 on the Belarusian market. Earlier Belarus used to import this kind of
equipment. Company representatives noted, in 2005 for the first time a
domestic producer had made and commissioned a 13,080-port Beta M terminal
exchange. On March 30th Deputy Industry Minister Gennadi Sviderski declared at the
conference dedicated to the opening ceremony of the 12th
international specialized exhibition TIBO-2005, MPOVT OJSC plans to exhibit a
digital automatic phone exchange Beta 128.11, which was developed to
modernize armaments, military and special equipment. Among other novelties the company also plans to
showcase a digital data communication fibre optic system for cable television
networks, passive cash registers BM 8006, BM 8016, BM 8014, which can be used
alone or as part of special computer systems. 29/03/2005 MINSK
HOSTS TIBO-2005 FORUM APRIL 4-8
(on
the information from Interfax) On April 4-8 Minsk will host XII Belarusian Forum of
Information and Communications Technologies TIBO-2004 participated by
computer engineering and telecommunications providers and software
developers. The forum includes XII international specialised
exhibition for telecommunications, information and banking technologies
TIBO-2005, XII Belarusian Congress for Information Society Technologies, III
Belarusian Contest of Internet-resources Internet-Prize TIBO-2005 and
Belarusian Cyber Game Championship AMD64. This year, LG Electronics will join the forum among
others. Moreover, Multisoft Company (Minsk) will implement a wireless access
network with a free Internet access (Hotspot). 03/03/2005 BELARUSIAN TELEGRAPH AGENCY RECEIVES
HIGHEST AWARD OF ALL-UKRAINIAN ANNUAL MASS MEDIA CONTEST "GOLDEN
PEN" (on
the information from BelTA) The Belarusian Telegraph Agency received a diploma
of the All-Ukrainian annual mass media contest Golden Pen in 2004. This is
the highest award of the contest granted to BelTA for providing reliable
information about political events in Ukraine. Objectivity, topicality, originality, these are the
three criteria on which the winner of the fifth All-Ukrainian contest was
determined. The awarding ceremony held in the national palace Ukraine in Kiev
on March 1 gathered leading Ukrainian mass media. The Russian First channel.
World network was awarded with a diploma of the best foreign TV channel on
the territory of Ukraine, the New Russian word was called the best newspaper
in Russian, Polish edition Tygodnik Powszechny was awarded for full and
all-round coverage of relations between Ukraine and Poland and the Georgian
TV company Rustavi-2 - for honest coverage of the Orange Revolution’s events. Ukrainian and Russian pop
stars and Belarusian singer Alexander Solodukha took part in the concert on
the occasion. 02/03/2005 GSM USER NUMBER GROWS IN JANUARY-FEBRUARY
(on
the information from Interfax) According to cellular communication companies, the
number of GSM active users in Belarus grew by 8.1% in January-February 2005
to exceed 2,540,000 as of March 1. At present, there are two mobile communication
companies catering to the Belarusian market: Mobile Digital Communication
(MDC, Velcom trademark) and Mobile TeleSystems LLC. As of March 1 the number of GSM users in the MDC
network exceeded 1,220,000, 7.5% up on January 1 2005. In February alone the
number of GSM users grew 3.4%. The number of registered users in the MTS network
exceeded 1,320,000 as of March 1, 8.7% up on January 1. In February the
number of users increased by 3.9%. Mobile Digital Communications Belarusian-Cypriot
joint venture was set up in July 1998 by Cypriot company SB-Telecom (49%),
Belarusian Beltelecom Corporation (31%) and CJSC Beltechexport (20%). In August
1998, the company obtained a ten-year license to design, build, and exploit a
GSM-900 national cellular communication network. In December 2002 the company
was licensed for designing a GSM-1800 network. Mobile TeleSystems LLC joint venture was set up in
April 2002. It is licensed for commercial exploitation of a GSM-900/1800
network. The company founders are the largest Russian cell communication
operator MTS (49%) and Belarusian Intercity Communication company (51%). 21/02/2005 Belarus
ready to work out digital solidarity fund creation principles
MINSK, Feb 21 (Prime-Tass) -- The creation of the
digital solidarity fund and Internet use management are the key issues of the
second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), according
to the WSIS preparatory meeting held in Geneva on February 17-25, Belarus’
Foreign Ministry’s press service said in a statement Monday. Belarus was represented by members of the
Communication and Information Ministries and permanent mission with the UN
and international institutions in Geneva. The participants plan to draft political and
operative clauses of the final documents that are to be submitted to heads of
states at the summit in Tunisia later this year. Also, officials considered a summary report on
financial mechanisms to develop information society. The participants are
either to adjust the current financing mechanisms or create new ones, the
press service said. The Internet use management is to be discussed at
the next meeting of the preparatory committee that is to be held before the
summit. As Prime-Tass reported earlier, Belarus was included
in the preparatory committee of the second phase of the summit. Belarus
partook in the first phase in Geneva in December 2003 at the presidential level.
Belarus offered the UN to
create a special fund to reimburse software manufacturers the expenses
associated with software supplies at reduced prices to developing countries. 21/02/2005 Belarus’
MDC says increased network capacity in Braslav, Zhlobin
MINSK, Feb 21 (Prime-Tass) -- Belarus’ mobile
operator Mobile Digital Communications (MDC), which operates 900/1800 GSM
network under the Velcom brand name, has expanded the network capacity in the
towns of Braslav, in the Vitebsk Region, Zhlobin, in the Gomel Region, and
Lida, in the Grodno Region, the company said in a statement Monday. Also, MDC launched services in the towns of Kossovo,
and Novoyelni, in the Brest and Grodno Regions, which are situated along
Minsk-Slootsk-Mikashevichy P23 motorway. As of February 1, 2005 MDC had 748 base stations
against 695 as of January 1, 2005. The company also provides international roaming with
215 operators in 95 countries. MDC is presented by 24 Velcom centers and 460
dealerships in 119 Belarusian cities and towns. The subscriber base increased 4% on the month in
January to 1.18 million users as of February 1, 2005 and 80.2% from January
1, 2004. MDC accounted for 47% of Belarus’ mobile phone
market, compared with more than 56% at the beginning of 2004. Other major mobile telecommunications companies in
Belarus are Belarus’ largest mobile operator MTS, providing GSM 900/1800
standard and Belarus-British joint venture BelCel operating NMT450 and
IMT-MC-450 networks. MDC’s charter capital is divided among Cyprus’ SB
Telecom with a 49% stake, Belarus’ state-controlled fixed-line monopoly
Beltelecom with 31% and Belarus’ arms and weapons exporter Beltekhexport with
20%. MDC is Belarus’ first GSM 900 network operator and the official
representative of Globalstar satellite communications in Belarus. End 17/02/2005 BelCel
mobile operator launches services in Rechitsa, Gomel Region
MINSK, Feb 17 (Prime-Tass) -- Belarusian-Dutch joint
stock company BelCel, which operates cdma2000 (IMT-MC-450) and NMT-450
networks under DIALLOG and NMT brands, has launched Diallog services in the
city of Rechitsa, in the Gomel Region, the company said in a statement
Thursday. The population of Osipovichi is at 66,200 people. The company plans to provide its services in new
cities, BelCel said without elaborating. As of February 1, 2005, cdma2000 services covered
36% of Belarus’ territory with 80% of urban population, while NMT services
were available to 83% of urban population. BelCel plans to launch an additional 97 base
stations in 2005 to cover 68% of Belarus’ territory, up from 36%. BelCel operates the cdma2000 and NMT-450 networks
simultaneously. The company’s share on the domestic mobile services
market stood at 3.6% as of December 1, 2004. BelCel’s subscriber base rose to
about 100,000 clients as of February 1, 2005 from 30,000 users as of January
1, 2004. Currently the Netherlands’ CIB BV holds 50% in
BelCel, state fixed-line monopoly Beltelecom holds 33% and Infobank has a 17%
stake. End 16/02/2005 Belarus’
BelCel operator launches services in Osipovichi
MINSK, Feb 16 (Prime-Tass) -- Belarusian-Dutch joint
stock company BelCel, which operates cdma2000 (IMT-MC-450) and NMT-450
networks under DIALLOG and NMT brands, has launched Diallog services in the
city of Osipovichi, in the Mogilev Region, the company said in a statement
Wednesday. The population of Osipovichi is at 35,000 people. The company plans to provide its services in new cities,
BelCel said without elaborating. As of February 1, 2005, cdma2000 services covered
36% of Belarus’ territory with 80% of urban population, while NMT services
were available to 83% of urban population. BelCel plans to launch an additional 97 base
stations in 2005 to cover 68% of Belarus’ territory, up from 36%. BelCel operates the cdma2000 and NMT-450 networks
simultaneously. The company’s share on the domestic mobile services
market stood at 3.6% as of December 1, 2004. BelCel’s subscriber base rose to
about 100,000 clients as of February 1, 2005 from 30,000 users as of January
1, 2004. Currently the Netherlands’ CIB BV holds 50% in
BelCel, state fixed-line monopoly Beltelecom holds 33% and Infobank has a 17%
stake. End 14/02/2005 GOMEL
BELTELECOM BRANCH OPENS TENDER TO BUILD FIBER-OPTIC LINE
MINSK, Feb 14 (Prime-Tass) -- The Gomel-based branch
of the state-owned fixed-line monopoly Beltelecom has opened a tender among
Belarus’ domestic companies to build several telephone stations in Gomel and
a fiber-optic line on the Svetlogorsk-Oktyabrsky-Petrikov section, in the
Gomel Region, a source with the branch told Prime-Tass Monday. The project is to be completed in 2005. The tender
commission accepts bids until February 16. According to specialists, the winner is to build six
or seven telephone stations. Bidders are supplied with project documentation
free of charge. Beltelecom is now involved in a large-scale upgrade
of its primary and secondary telecommunication lines. In 2004, communication companies built 1,287
kilometers of fiber-optic lines, above the target set at 1,230 kilometers.
The total length of Belarus’ fiber-optic lines amounts to 12,500 kilometers. Beltelecom was set up in July 1995. It provides about
70 kinds of services, including fixed-line telephone and Internet services.
The company employs 27,900 people. End 02/02/2005 MTS
says subscriber base in Belarus up to 1.270 mln as of Feb 1
MINSK, Feb 1 (Prime-Tass) -- The subscriber base of
the Russian-Belarusian joint venture Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) in Belarus,
which operates GSM 900/1800 standard under MTS and Jeans trademarks, rose to
1.270 million active clients as of February 1, 2005, up 4.6% on the month in
January, an official with MTS press service told Prime-Tass Tuesday. The number of MTS subscribers rose 161.6% from
January 1, 2004. As of February 1, 2005, MTS covered 52% of Belarus’
territory and provided international roaming with 139 operators in 81
countries. MTS is presented by 457 dealerships. The company has more than 700 base stations. Other Belarus’ mobile operators are Mobile Digital
Communication (MDC), which operates GSM-900/1880 network under the Velcom
brand, and BelCel, which operates NMT450 and IMT-MC-450 networks. MTS’ share of Belarus’ cellular market stood at
50.2% as of February 1, 2005, up from 41% as of January 1 last year. MTS launched its GSM-900/1800 network in Belarus on
June 27, 2002. MTS was registered in Belarus on April 4, 2002. The
company is a joint venture between Russia’s largest mobile operator Mobile
TeleSystems (MTS) and Belarus’ long-distance operator Mezhdugorodnaya Svyaz.
The companies hold respective stakes of 49% and 51% in the joint venture. End
Belarus’
MDC subscriber base up 4% on mo in Jan to 1.180 mln
MINSK, Feb 1 (Prime-Tass) -- The subscriber base of
Belarus’ mobile phone operator Mobile Digital Communications (MDC), which
provides GSM 900/1800 standard services under the Velcom brand, has increased
4% on the month in January to 1.180 million users as of February 1, the
company told Prime-Tass Tuesday. The company’s subscriber base rose 80.2% in 2004. In January, the company launched an additional 17
base stations in the GSM 900 standard and two base stations in the GSM 1800 standard.
MDC said it improved the coverage and network capacity in Borisov, Soligorsk,
Maryina Gorka, Stolbtsy, in the Minsk Region, Mogilev, Bobruisk, Klimovichi,
in the Mogilev Region, Pinsk, in the Brest Region, and Tolochin, in the
Vitebsk Region. MDC also improved the coverage of the customs
checkpoint Benyakoni, on the Lithuanian border, and Selische, on the Russian
border. Also, MDC fully covered M3 Minsk-Vitebsk highway and improved the
quality of its service along P23 Minsk-Slootsk-Mikashevichi, M8
Vitebsk-Grodno and M5 Minsk-Gomel motorways. As of February 1 MDC had 748 base stations against
695 as of January 1. The company also provides international roaming with
215 operators in 95 countries. MDC is presented by 24 Velcom centers and 460
dealerships in 119 Belarusian cities and towns. As of now, MDC covers the territory with 98% of the
country’s urban population [165 cities and towns]. As of February 1, 2005 MDC accounted for 47% of
Belarus’ mobile phone market, compared with more than 56% at the beginning of
last year, according to the company’s own estimates. Other Belarus’ mobile operators are
Belarusian-Russian joint venture Mobile TeleSystems (MTS), which operates
GSM-900/1880 network, and Belarusian-British joint venture BelCel, which
operates NMT450 and IMT-MC-450 networks. MDC’s charter capital is divided among Cyprus’ SB
Telecom with a 49% stake, Belarus’ state-controlled fixed-line monopoly
Beltelecom with 31% and Belarus’ arms and weapons exporter Beltekhexport with
20%. MDC is Belarus’ first GSM 900 network operator and the official
representative of Globalstar satellite communications in Belarus. End 28/01/2005 ON FOREIGN TRADE IN COMMUNICATION SERVICES
(on
the information from Interfax) Last year enterprises and organizations accountable
to the Information Technology and Communication Ministry of Belarus increased
the volume of foreign trade in services by 15.2% up on 2003 to a total of
$123.7 million, Communication and Information Technology Minister Vladimir
Goncharenko informed at a sitting of the ministry board on January 27. In 2004 the surplus of foreign trade in services
made $12.2 million, with electric communication services making $10.6 million
of the total, post services - $1.6 million. The minister stated, constantly growing demand for
communication services boosted the development of electric communication
means. Last year the ministry installed 258,300 local phones, including
206,200 phones in urban areas and 52,100 phones in rural ones. Early this
year the equipped capacity of urban phone exchanges made 98.4%, rural ones –
97.9%. The highest figures were registered in Minsk Region. Last year they commissioned 1,300 km of fibre optic
communication lines, 5% more than the annual target. Now 98 district towns
are connected with fibre optic communication networks. The minister informed, last year the number of fixed
phones gained 104,600 (the forecast – 82,000), including 73,800 in urban
networks. The number of personal phones grew 95,300 (the annual target —
77,000). Last year the ministry spent BYR 29.4 billion on
developing local phone networks. On the whole, enterprises and organizations
of the Information Technology and Communication Ministry invested BYR 323.5
billion in fixed capital. Last year proceeds of ministry’s enterprises and
organisations amounted to BYR 1.3 trillion. Return on sales made 16.1%, 5.8
percentage points up on 2003. According to the minister, only Les Company and
Promsvyaz operated in the red. Their losses made BYR 3.6 billion and BYR 0.3
billion respectively. Industrial output growth made 113.9$ as against 2003
(the target was 109-110%), consumer goods turnout – 111.4% (108-109%). In 2005 a ministry taskforce charged with preparing
the Belarusian communication industry for entering the World Trade
Organisation will continue insisting on sectional position related to access
to the service market. 27/01/2005 BELTELECOM INTERNET USER NUMBER GROWS IN 2004
(on
the information from Interfax) The number of users of the national data
transmission network Beltelecom grew almost 35% in 2004 to near 30,600
subscribers (IP addresses included). The specialists pointed out almost 22,000 Internet
subscribers using dial-up, dedicated line, semi-dedicated line, Ethernet,
SHDSL access subscribers. Last year Beltelecom made out over 2 million bills
to pay-as-you-go users. Gomel region is the leader in the number of Internet
users (around 6,400 subscribers) while Mogilev region has the least number of
the users (over 4,300). Specialists pointed out the growing number of
Internet access contracts in Minsk as well as rising number of ADSL
subscribers in Grodno branch of the company and Minsk City Phone Network.
More and more clients are leaving dedicated and semi-dedicated lines to get connected
to the Internet using xDSL technology. In 2004 the equipped capacity of Beltelecom datacom
network grew 23.4% up on January 2004 and made 9,500 ports. The installed
capacity of the datacom network makes 13,000 ports, 15.5% up on the year. The number of Internet users is expected to double
by the end of 2005. Next year the company also plans to increase the port
capacity of the asymmetric broadband (xDSL) by 6 times without decreasing the
pace of dialup access development. At present the overall bandwidth of external
Beltelecom channels makes 355 Mb/s (a 155 Mb/s channel linking Belarus with
Russian Metrocom ISP, another 155 Mb/s channel to UTA Telecom, a 45 Mb/s
channel linking Belarus with American Sprint net). Belarus will have three STM-1 independent channels
with the overall bandwidth of 465 Mb/s. Founded on July 3 1995, Beltelecom (a state
corporation before August 1 2004) is the national electric communications
operator and the primary ISP in Belarus. It maintains a wide
telecommunications network and backbone fibre optic channels connecting
Belarus with neighbouring states. It offers over 60 kinds of electric
communication services, including those available through a proprietary
network of cybercafes. 18/01/2005 ON CREATION OF NEW INTERNATIONAL TV
CHANNEL “BELARUS-TV” (on
the information from BelTA) The new international TV channel “Belarus-TV” has been created by the National State TV and Radio Company of the Republic of Belarus and will become the first national TV channel for the audience living abroad. | ||||||||||||||||||
