VivaCell introduces ‘Personal’ postpaid plan (Armenia)
VivaCell-MTS has introduces a new postpaid plan called ‘Personal’.
The monthly fee is US$2722.64 and includes 5,000 on-net airtime minutes, 200 minutes for calls to other networks, 200 SMS messages, and 200 MB of internet data.
Out of the Bundled calls, US$4.08 would be charges for on-net calls and US$9.5 for calls to other networks. SMS messages cost US$1.5 for on-net messages and US$3 for messages to other networks. The data is priced at US$8.6 per MB.
VivaCell unveils corporate service (Armenia)
VivaCell-MTS, Armenian mobile services provider has introduced the ‘Office’ service for corporate communications.
The service includes a single phone number for all outgoing calls, a customizable IVR service, short numbers, and group hunting. The package is available to subscribers of the ‘Between Us’ corporate packages.
VivaCell-MTS plans to launch commercial LTE services in Feb 2011 (Armenia)
Armenian cellco VivaCell-MTS has launched its LTE network on a ‘test-commercial basis’.
The company plans a full commercial launch in February starting in Yerevan before being expanded to Armenia’s regions.
VivaCell-MTS has paid US$2.7 million for a 4G concession in November. Meanwhile, fellow operator Armentel is believed to be in discussions with the Public Services Regulatory Commission of Armenia as it seeks to secure a 4G concession.
MTS wins LTE spectrum in Armenia
Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) has been awarded radio spectrum for LTE services in Armenia. VivaCell-MTS, a majority-owned subsidiary of MTS, is the first mobile operator to have been allocated frequencies for the deployment of a LTE network from Public Services Regulatory Commission of the Republic of Armenia.
In line with the regulator’s decision VivaCell-MTS has an responsibility to launch the LTE network into commercial operation before March 2011. The mobile operator is expected to launch a special LTE test zone in central Yerevan before December 2010 in preparation for a full-scale commercial launch that is scheduled for February-March 2011.
According to VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian, VivaCell-MTS LTE rollout positions Armenia as one of the global leaders in 4G deployment. The company is planning to deploy 4G across the country as was the case with the 3.5G network, which already covers 94% of the territory. The launch of the new innovative technologies and services is one of the key priorities for the company.
VivaCell introduces BlackBerry solutions
Armenian mobile operator VivaCell-MTS has launched BlackBerry solutions with Emitac Mobile Solutions Research In Motion (RIM) in Armenia. VivaCell-MTS will launch the BlackBerry Bold 9700, BlackBerry Bold 9000 and BlackBerry Storm2 9520 in Armenian market.
The solution will allow easy access to email, messaging, social networking, phone, calendar, web, multimedia and other business and lifestyle applications on smartphones.
According to VivaCell-MTS, launching BlackBerry smartphones in Armenia for both personal and professional use will allow VivaCell-MTS subscribers to stay ahead of technology. Offering high-speed quality mobile Internet experience is a main objective for VivaCell-MTS. With the growing popularity of data-intensive services, the company will enable its customers to use VivaCell-MTS’ 3G network with the latest smartphone launch. Whereas, According to EMS, the launch of BlackBerry smartphones in Armenia is an important step for EMS adding to their commitment of establishing and expanding the BlackBerry services to unreachable markets.
Armenia’s ArmenTel plans to triple 3G capacity
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Tripling of 3G communications capacity has been planned by national fixed line and mobile operator ArmenTel by the end of 2010. Working under the Beeline trademark of its parent Vimpelcom, more than 100,000 subscribers currently use the cellco’s mobile internet services, including 3G.
The Russian parent of the telco after the successful trials of a test LTE network in Kazakhstan has planned to roll out Long Term Evolution (LTE) in Armenia.
According to Armentel CEO Igor Klimko, it is very important to note that the decision on frequency harmonisation, in which the LTE network construction will be permitted in Armenia, will also have an impact on its plans and it is felt that frequencies within 700MHz-800MHz harmonisation will be optimal. Mixed views have been generated by the rivals of the telco. 4G service based on LTE technology is intended to be generated by VivaCell-MTS during 2010. Orange Armenia has made it clear that it does not plan to replace 3G+ (HSPA) technology with 4G.
Armenian cellco K-Telecom reaches 2.1m subscribers mark
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The subscribers’ base of Armenian cellco K-Telecom (trading as VivaCell-MTS) reached 2.1 million on February 28, 2010.
75% of the domestic mobile market had been controlled by VivaCell-MTS at December 31, 2009. With 19% market share, the mobile arm of national PTO ArmenTel (Beeline) was close to MTS and it was followed by market newcomer Orange Armenia with the remaining market share. Orange signed its 200,000th subscriber just last month having launched services on November 5, 2009.
Given the threat posed by its rivals, VivaCell-MTS is now looking to new, advanced technologies to maintain its competitive edge. Plan to deploy 4G mobile broadband services based on Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology in 2010 has been recently revealed by the company.
Out of 2.045 million-strong customer base of the cellco, around 600,000 subscribe to some form of data product (i.e. GPRS, EDGE or UMTS technology), including around 400,000 3G subscribers.
VivaCell is a subsidiary of Russian powerhouse Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (MTS), a leading telecoms operator in Russia and CIS countries.
Orange Armenia reaches 200K subscribers in three months
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: 200,000 subscriber marks has been crossed by Orange Armenia in less than three months after launching commercial services on 5 November 2009.The Company is owned by France telecom and hit the 100,000 subscriber mark in early December itself.
EUR100 million (USD148.5 million) has already been invested by Orange and is going forward to provide necessary expertise and investment to ensure the development of a high-quality 2G and 3G+ network offering nationwide coverage.
Before Orange’s entry in Armenia, the market was previously a duopoly of VivaCell-MTS and ArmenTel (Beeline).
However, a population of around 3.2 million people, including 1.1 million in the capital Yerevan, Armenia offered the FT group significant growth potential.
Vivacell introduces scheme offering free airtime (Armenia)
Vivacell-MTS, the Armenian incumbent, has introduced a scheme which offers free of charge call for one week. The new scheme is available from 8 March to 7 April in which the subscribers can send a command to indicate their phone number their loved one. The loved one will recieve the oppportunity to call free of cost for 10,000 minutes for a period of one week. The charges to send a command are AMD 1400. This service is only valid for VivaCell-MTS prepaid and corporate subscribers. A subscriber can be presented with free airtime for maximum four times. Free airtime can only be presented and received during the card’s validity period and the free airtime is not available while roaming.
