www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Velcom has inked new roaming deals with the Cypriot Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CYTA), Azerbaijani carrier Azercell Telecom and Russian GSM player Smarts. Presently, the subscriber of Velcom Pivet, are using a roaming service in the networks of 46 operators in 34 countries and world territories where incoming and outgoing calls are available. Now, receiving calls and text messages is available to Privet subscribers in 359 partner networks in 157 countries and territories.
On 06.19.09, In Mobile, By Editor
On 05.12.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Velcom, the Belorussian mobile operator, has inked an exclusive agreement with Belcel to roll out broadband internet access services based on CDMA2000 technology (EV-DO Rev. A). At present Velcom’s network is capable of providing data transfer speeds of up to 3.1 Mbps. Velcom and Belcel have concluded a number of arrangements on development, service and support of the network. To start with, Velcom will offer its CDMA2000 services to corporate subscribers. The cost of a package for business subscribers starts from BYR 50,000 per month for 1 GB. At a later stage, the operator is also going to offer 3G internet packages to residential subscribers.
On 04.24.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Velcom, Mobile operator in Belarus, has expanded its roaming services for Privet subscribers to Montenegro through a roaming partnership with T-Mobile. Velcom has also extended its GPRS roaming to Sweden through TeliaSonera Mobile Networks and to Czech Republic via T-Mobile. The Privet subscribers can activate this service by using the USSD service command *126 # (direct request – *126*6 # and a call key), a service available within the network of Velcom.
On 03.20.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Velcom, the Belarusian incumbent, reduces the subscription fees for the On-line and Light postpaid tariff plans for corporate subscribers. The On-line tariff plan will now be offered for free, along with 10 free on-net minutes to three favourite numbers every month.
Whereas the subscription fee for Light tariff plan will be slashed by 50% to BYR 1,200, along with monthly 10 on-net free minutes every month.
On 02.25.09, In Mobile, By Editor
Telekom Austria Group today announced its results for the full year 2008 and the fourth quarter ending December 31, 2008.
Restructuring measures announced:
In 4Q 08 the Telekom Austria Group announced a restructuring program of its Fixed Net operations, which required expenses of EUR 632.1 million and affected EBITDA, operating income and net income for 4Q 08 and the full year 2008. However, these expenses did not materially impact the cash flow of the Telekom Austria Group and will improve future results.
Year-to-date comparison:
During 2008 revenues grew by 5.1% to EUR 5,170.3 million mainly due to the performance of the mobile communications operations including the consolidation of Velcom, which more than offset the impact of the EU Roaming- Regulation and the lower contribution from the Fixed Net segment. EBITDA decreased by 30.2% to EUR 1,295.6 million driven by the above mentioned restructuring program in the Fixed Net segment, which required expenses of EUR 632.1 million. Excluding the restructuring program EBITDA increased by 3.9% to EUR 1,927.7 million.
Operating income declined by 82.2% to EUR 135.5 million. Net loss amounted to EUR 48.8 million compared to a net income of EUR 492.5 million for FY 2007 primarily impacted by the restructuring program. Capital expenditures for tangible and intangible assets decreased from EUR 851.3 million to EUR 807.6 million as lower capital expenditures in the Fixed Net segment more than offset higher capital expenditures in the Mobile Communication segment.
Net debt decreased by 9.4% to EUR 3,993.3 million at the end of 2008 compared to the end of 2007.
Quarterly comparison:
Revenues increased by 1.4% to EUR 1,306.5 million in 4Q 08 primarily driven by the strong performance of mobilkom austria and Velcom in Belarus. The EUR 632.1 million expenses recorded for the restructuring program resulted in a negative EBITDA of EUR 212.0 million. Excluding the restructuring expenses EBITDA grew by 7.4% to EUR 420.1 million.
An operating loss of EUR 516.1 million and a net loss of EUR 437.7 million were recorded in 4Q 08 due to the restructuring program. Loss per share was EUR 0.99 in 4Q 08.
Capital expenditures for tangible and intangible assets decreased by 13.6% to EUR 273.3 million mainly due to lower capital expenditures in the Fixed Net segment offsetting higher capital expenditures at Velcom in Belarus and at mobilkom austria.
Further Information
For more detailed information about the full year results 2008 please refer to the corresponding report on Telekom Austria Group’s website at www.telekomaustria.com/interim_reports
On 02.24.09, In Mobile, By Editor
Velcom (Belorussian mobile operator) teamed up with financial institution Priorbank to launch mobile banking services. The subscribers of Velcom with a Priorbank account can avail the Prior Mobile SMS-Banking service at the 1212 short number. By sending an SMS to 1212, the users can get information about their Priorbank account balance, sum of compulsory credit payment, as well as request information on their balance and deposit interest accrued. As well as they can use their mobile phone to make payments, refill deposits, repay credits opened at Priorbank or pay bills.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
On 01.19.09, In Mobile, By Editor
Telekom Austria announces the net additions it made in the mobile sector in the month of November and December of 2008. The group posted a subscriber base of 17.8 million at the end of December 2008, up from 15.4 million a year earlier, a rise of 15.2%. Mobilkom Austria reported 140,500 net addition during Q4′08 expanding its susbcriber base to 4.5 million. Mobitel Bulgaria added 202,500 subscribers in Q4′08 whereas Velcom, Belarus’ second largest telco, saw a rise in subscriber base by 20.9% from 3.1 million customers at year-end 2007 to 3.7 million at the end of 2008. VIPnet, the Croatian incumbent, grew its subscriber base by 14.7% to 570,600 subscribers. VIP Serbia’s subscriber base rose by 78.4% to 907,900 subscriber base at December’08 end on the other hand VIP Macedonia, had 242,000 subscribers at year-end 2008 compared to 141,200 subscribers at the end of 2007, an increase of 71.4%.
On 12.12.08, In Mobile, By Editor
The Belarus based operator Belarusian Telecommunications Network (BeST), majorily owned by Turkcell instigates a rising market share in the domestic mobile market to 33% after 2009, which currently is trailing at a market share of 5%, as it looks forward to be in neck to neck competition with MTS Belarus and Mobile Digital Communications (Velcom). In July this year Turkcell agreed to buy an 80% stake in BeST from the State Committee on Property of the Republic of Belarus for $500 million, plus a further payment of $100 million when BeST records its first full-year profit. Turkcell also agreed to invest $500 million in the company’s development over the next ten years.
On 11.19.08, In Mobile, By Editor
Velcom posts its third quarter results. The subscriber base reaches to 3.5 million with the net addition of 100,000 new subscribers in third quarter. The 100% owned Telekom Austria subsidiary, reported revenues of EUR82.4 million (USD104.1 million) and EBITDA of EUR41.9 million in the period under review, while its EBITDA margin was stable at 50.8%. The operating income in this quarter was EUR22.7 million. The ARPU grows from EUR6.9 in 2Q08 to EUR7.6 in 3Q08, driven by the launch of new attractively priced tariff plans and currency fluctuations. While, average MOU dipped from 165.8 to 162.8 in the same period.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
On 11.11.08, In Mobile, By Editor
Telekom Austria posts a fall of 6.2% in net profits in Q3′08, to $204.2 million from $217.76 million in 2007. Revenues rose by 4% year-on-year at $1.66 billion, in line with estimates, while EBITDA went up by 3% to $1.89 billion. Sales for the telco were caused by consolidation of Belarusian cellular operator Velcom. The operator ended Q3′08 with a subscriber base of 17 million, a rise of 51.5% year-on-year, driven by addition of Velcom and organic growth across all subsidiaries.