BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

03/04/2006

3G Trial for Velcom in Belarus

Europe : First GSM standard cellular operator in Belarus, JV MDC Ltd. (trademark VELCOM) informs about starting of test operation of the trial network 3G VELCOM.

"We declare with confidence that technological development of VELCOM network defines formation of the whole cellular market in our country.This proves the existence of lots of innovation projects, which have been realized in Belarus thanks to VELCOM Company first of all, i.e. access to Internet through WAP, exchange of multimedia messages MMS, technologies of data transmission such as GPRS and EDGE.

Today we do implement a real break in the sphere of mobile telecommunications. For the first time in Belarus, services of UMTS - 3rd generation networks became available for mobile users. We are happy to announce the start up of test operation of the network 3G VELCOM. This event is a result of hard work of all our experts as well as of our cooperation with the leading world-wide supplier of the telecommunication equipment Ericsson Company. It is also worthy to note VELCOM aspiration for always being on the peak of hi-tech innovations. Wide opportunities corresponding to the latest tendencies of the world cellular market will be opened for our subscribers.

We offer appreciating of noticeably increased speed of data transmission that provides visual communication, exchange of video images, mobile TV, synchronization with office applications and a number of other services being new for Belarus. It is obvious, that the test operation of 3G VELCOM network will be a first step in deployment of mobile communications of the new generation. In addition, we are proud that VELCOM Company appears as a pioneer again in such a honourable mission and our leading ambitions are proved with high professionalism and unique experience,"- said JV MDC Ltd. Gennady Melnikov, General Director.

The network 3G is notable for the high speed of data transmission allowing within a few seconds to transfer and receive by a mobile phone any video image and other data, to load necessary information into one's phone, to watch TV-programs using a handset, to travel over Internet, to read e-mails, to make synchronization with office applications.

The trial zone of 3G network will be launched in the central part of Minsk. Testing of the network is to be carried out during the period from March, 30 till August, 31, 2006 inclusive.

Every subscriber of the company (except for users of PRIVET) can take part in testing of the trial network 3G VELCOM. What you need is just a telephone set supporting UMTS/WCDMA. Access to the testing one can obtain in the sales and service center at the address: Minsk, street Melnikaite, 14. Physical persons are supposed to have a passport and a certain application. As to legal entities presence of a standard application is enough.

The following potential is provided for free for the subscribers taking part in the 3G testing under the period of a cellphone registration within the trial network 3G VELCOM:

To make all directions-calls except for international calls and calls to chargeable service numbers 123, 085 etc.;

To fulfill a package data transmission when using an access point (APN) 3g.velcom.by;

To view streaming video when using the given access point;

To initiate video calls in VELCOM network;

To send and receive MMS messages in VELCOM network;

To send and receive SMS messages in VELCOM network;

To get a professional consultation concerned 3G net one should apply to the sales and service centre placed in the company's office in Melnikaite st. 14. In the same place the exposition called "3G VELCOM - territory of future" demonstrating 3G services will be launched.

Company information: JV MDC Ltd. (trademark VELCOM) is first GSM 900/1800 standard cellular operator in Belarus. Today more than 2 080 000 people use company's service. VELCOM network covers more than 67% of the country's territory where live more than 90% of the Belarusian population. The republican network of VELCOM sales and service centres includes 31 sales and service centres placed in 17 cities of Belarus as well as 643 dealers' offices in 154 settlements.

There are 9 ways of payment procedures at VELCOM subscribers' disposal: in sales and service offices, at the post office, banks as well as via ATM machines, "Express-payment" cards, electronic "Berlio" cards, via such services as "Mobile bank" and "SMS-Banking" and EasyPay. VELCOM disposes large network of payments-receiving points that includes over 7882 points around the republic.

Source:

http://www.3g.co.uk/PR/April2006/2866.htm