Beeline launches new ‘Super Zero’ plan (Tajikistan)
Mobile operator Beeline has launched a new tariff plan for all calls made within the network. As per the company the monthly fee for this tariff plan is $ 8 for subscribers to connect to and within the territory of Sogd, Badakhshan, and $ 10 for subscribers of other areas of the Republic of Tajikistan.
The plan offers users 1500 minutes of usage for calls made within the network along with 1500 SMS to be sent within the network, with a validity of 30 days. The plan also includes 100 MB of GPRS data. For users using this plan all incoming calls remain free while outgoing calls made to the Republic of Tajikistan are charged at $0.06 per minute.
Vietnam Ministry to limit the number of simcards per person (Vietnam)
The Ministry of Information and Communications will permit each person to register a maximum of 18 simcards from mobile network operators, according to a report by VNS.
As per the report, the draft of a circular on managing pre-paid mobile phone subscribers reveals that if one person wants to have more than three simcards, he/she must register with another mobile phone network operator. So, one person would register a maximum of 18 simcards from six mobile network operators.
The six operators are Viettel, VinaPhone, MobiFone, S-Fone, Vietnamobile and Beeline. The development is considered a tough measure to closely manage pre-paid mobile phone subscribers.
Nguyen Dinh Chien, deputy general director, MobiFone, the third largest mobile network operator, said that mobile simcards were used in many devices such as USBs of 3G generation, notebook computers and mobile phones. Therefore, the State should increase the maximum numbers of simcards owned by each person to five units.
Nguyen Viet Dung, deputy general director of Viettel Telecom, agreed and said the demand was surely more than three simcards for each person.
The report reveals that the draft of the circular will permit one enterprise to register a maximum of 100 simcards. The regulation is expected to restrict enterprises from registering too many simcards to sell on the market. At present, there is a service provided by individuals that a normal subscriber can change to be a student subscriber even if they are not students to get cheaper mobile phone service charges.
Russia’s network-sharing deal in trouble over pricing problems
Russia’s leading mobile network operators MTS, VimpelCom (Beeline), Megafon along with Rostelekom, had signed a deal with Yota to provide mobile broadband services via its LTE network, earlier this year. In the first of its kind, competing service providers will come together to offer their consumers better services via a single network. The said network is expected to serve over 70 million people across 180 cities in Russia in 2014. The deal benefits the operators by saving costs required to build an individual network while at the same time providing users faster access to 4G services. Reportedly, Dennis Sverdlov of Yota says that this network sharing approach will not only help the entire telecom industry but also boost the Russian economy.
However sources claim that this deal may already be facing a few problems especially in relation to pricing. Skartel owned Yota has valued itself at $1 billion creating a cause for concern for the operators. As per the agreement, each operator has the right to buy 20% shares in Yota once the network is completed, in 2014. However, industry insiders claim that the valuation may cause the deal to end as it has been inviting objections by the network operators. Talk are said to be ongoing between Skartel and the network operators.
Beeline Georgia introduces Alcatel handset (Georgia)
Mobile operator Mobitel, working under the Beeline Georgia brand has introduced the Alcatel OT-808 handset for new subscribers porting their number to the operator.
The handset is priced at US$94.31.
Beeline Kyrgyzstan offers free modems with notebooks
Beeline Kyrgyzstan is offering free 3G modem for subscribers buying a notebook or netbook in outlets of the Intermedia retail chain till August 31.
The modems from Beeline also work on its 2G network.
Beeline Kazakhstan offers Twitter SMS alerts
Kar-Tel, working under the Beeline Kazakhstan brand has launched the free SMS alerts from Twitter for subscribers. The cost of sending a message to Twitter is US$0.04.
Beeline Uzbekistan expands 2G, 3G network in Karakalpakistan Republic
Beeline Uzbekistan has expanded it 2G and 3G network coverage in Karakalpakistan Republic.
The capacity of the network has been raised in Nukus city, Takhtiash town as well as in the Chimbay and Khodjeyli municipalities.
Beeline Uzbekistan is also planning to launch its 3G network in the Kashkandarya and Surkhandarya municipalities soon.
FAS clears Beeline acquisition of NTC (Russia)
Russian competition regulator FAS has given a clean chit for the acquisition of the regional mobile operator NTC by the mobile operator VimpelCom, working under the Beeline brand.
According to reports, applications from mobile operators MTS and MegaFon on the takeover have been rejected. NTC is controlled by Korea Telecom and it has a mobile market share of 40% in the Primorye region. The application of Beeline was approved by the regulator due to the modest market penetration in the region.
Beeline to offer lower call rates to Kyivstar (Russia)
Russian mobile operator VimpelCom, working under the Beeline brand is reducing its calls and SMS rates to Ukrainian mobile operator Kyivstar from 31 March. Kyivstar is part of the VimpelCom group.
The offer is available for prepaid users of the Beeline World tariff line, which offers the same rate for calling all Beeline networks in the CIS countries.
Beeline offers mobile services for Ministry of Emergency (Russia)
Russian mobile operator VimpelCom, working under the Beeline brand, has signed a deal on providing mobile services for the Volgograd branch of the national Ministry of Emergency Situations.
The operator will provide mobile services for over 500 officials of the regional branch of the ministry in Volgograd and Volzhskiy.
