Tweet
FOURTH OPERATOR: UCOM PUTS EMPHASIS ON QUALITY AS IT ENTERS ARMENIA'S 'SATURATED' MOBILE SERVICES MARKET
http://www.armenianow.com/economy/it_and_telecom/49765/armenia_ucom_4g_lte_mobile_operator_market_permiss ion
IT AND TELECOM | 05.11.13 | 09:39
Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
The Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) on Monday unanimously
decided to grant Ucom LLC permission for the use of radio frequencies
in the territory of Armenia, which means that the company will become
the fourth mobile operator in the country where experts say there is
already a fairly high level of market saturation.
Founded in 2007, Ucom is a company providing telecommunications
services. Through a fiber-optic cable it provides broadband Internet,
IP television, landline telephone services. It has more than 55,000
customers at present. Under the license issued by the PSRC, Ucom must
ensure wireless broadband internet coverage in Yerevan and adjacent
areas within one year, and within two years it must ensure that
interstate highways and at least 80 percent of Armenia's populated
areas have broadband mobile internet coverage.
"We are going to introduce the most advanced technologies in Armenia.
Due to the quality of our technology and services we will become one
of the world's leading operators," Ucom Company Director Hayk Yesayan
told media on Monday, adding that the company will thus also create
new jobs.
The company applied to the PSRC for a license still in July 2013,
when a competition for a channel was announced. According to the
tender package submitted to the commission, Ucom is to do work
worth 6 billion, 225 million AMD (about $15.4 million), providing
broadband Internet services, landline telephone connection, mobile
phone services, etc. The permission will be valid until August 6,
2018 and the commercial operation of mobile communication services
by Ucom is to start no earlier than January 1, 2015.
Thus, Ucom will become the fourth company providing mobile phone
services in Armenia along with Beeline, VivaCell-MTS and Orange.
Even though many consider it absurd that a country like Armenia with
a population less than 3 million people should have so many mobile
operators, Yesayan is sure that they will find their place in the
market. "The one that offers the higher quality services and better
prices will win," he added.
Ucom company marketing director Ashot Barseghyan told ArmeniaNow that
the use of the frequency they have been granted permission for will
make it possible for them to provide high-quality Internet throughout
Armenia and the problems with mobile connection that have existed so
far will be partially solved.
"Mobile internet and mobile phone services that will be provided are
a completely new solution, we will build a new and better LTE network
with modern technology and by its speeds it will differ from the ones
that currently exist on the market," said Barseghyan.
The Orange Armenia Company's public relations officer Lilit Martirosyan
told ArmeniaNow that they were "a little surprised" at the decision
of the PSRC, because "the telecom market in Armenia is already quite
competitive, technically advanced and its penetration is fairly high."
"The fourth operator will use the LTE technology, and the prices of
phones needed for communication with that technology start at 350
euros (about $470), in the case when our company offers telephones
for 1 AMD in its entire coverage," said Martirosyan.
Beeline Armenia Company Public Relations officer Anush Beghloyan
said that only a decision to grant permission has been made yet,
while it is not known how it will be used. That's why, she said,
it is still too early to make any comments or predictions.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://www.armenianow.com/economy/it_and_telecom/49765/armenia_ucom_4g_lte_mobile_operator_market_permiss ion
IT AND TELECOM | 05.11.13 | 09:39
Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
The Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) on Monday unanimously
decided to grant Ucom LLC permission for the use of radio frequencies
in the territory of Armenia, which means that the company will become
the fourth mobile operator in the country where experts say there is
already a fairly high level of market saturation.
Founded in 2007, Ucom is a company providing telecommunications
services. Through a fiber-optic cable it provides broadband Internet,
IP television, landline telephone services. It has more than 55,000
customers at present. Under the license issued by the PSRC, Ucom must
ensure wireless broadband internet coverage in Yerevan and adjacent
areas within one year, and within two years it must ensure that
interstate highways and at least 80 percent of Armenia's populated
areas have broadband mobile internet coverage.
"We are going to introduce the most advanced technologies in Armenia.
Due to the quality of our technology and services we will become one
of the world's leading operators," Ucom Company Director Hayk Yesayan
told media on Monday, adding that the company will thus also create
new jobs.
The company applied to the PSRC for a license still in July 2013,
when a competition for a channel was announced. According to the
tender package submitted to the commission, Ucom is to do work
worth 6 billion, 225 million AMD (about $15.4 million), providing
broadband Internet services, landline telephone connection, mobile
phone services, etc. The permission will be valid until August 6,
2018 and the commercial operation of mobile communication services
by Ucom is to start no earlier than January 1, 2015.
Thus, Ucom will become the fourth company providing mobile phone
services in Armenia along with Beeline, VivaCell-MTS and Orange.
Even though many consider it absurd that a country like Armenia with
a population less than 3 million people should have so many mobile
operators, Yesayan is sure that they will find their place in the
market. "The one that offers the higher quality services and better
prices will win," he added.
Ucom company marketing director Ashot Barseghyan told ArmeniaNow that
the use of the frequency they have been granted permission for will
make it possible for them to provide high-quality Internet throughout
Armenia and the problems with mobile connection that have existed so
far will be partially solved.
"Mobile internet and mobile phone services that will be provided are
a completely new solution, we will build a new and better LTE network
with modern technology and by its speeds it will differ from the ones
that currently exist on the market," said Barseghyan.
The Orange Armenia Company's public relations officer Lilit Martirosyan
told ArmeniaNow that they were "a little surprised" at the decision
of the PSRC, because "the telecom market in Armenia is already quite
competitive, technically advanced and its penetration is fairly high."
"The fourth operator will use the LTE technology, and the prices of
phones needed for communication with that technology start at 350
euros (about $470), in the case when our company offers telephones
for 1 AMD in its entire coverage," said Martirosyan.
Beeline Armenia Company Public Relations officer Anush Beghloyan
said that only a decision to grant permission has been made yet,
while it is not known how it will be used. That's why, she said,
it is still too early to make any comments or predictions.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress