Телекоммуникации

Ukraine's Minister of Transportation and Communications Iosyp Vinsky has spoken in favor of the privatization of Ukrtelecom [UTEL UZ, U/R], which is Ukraine's fixed-line incumbent.

The Open Joint-Stock Company ‘Ukrtelecom’ [UTEL UZ, U/R] has proposed that mobile network operators adhere to the new rates for accessing its fixed-line network.

The Higher Administrative Court of Ukraine has refused to accept a complaint issued by CJSC Kyivstar GSM, requesting that the Court cancel a ruling by Kyiv Administrative Court of Appeals, issued in July 2008, regarding a case about the issuance of a license to use 2.1 GHz frequency bands for 3G mobile communications without using a tender-based process.

The Higher Administrative Court of Ukraine has refused to accept a complaint issued by CJSC Kyivstar GSM, requesting that the Court cancel a ruling by Kyiv Administrative Court of Appeals, issued in July 2008, regarding a case about the issuance of a license to use 2.1 GHz frequency bands for 3G mobile communications without using a tender-based process.

Ukrtelecom`s mobile communication unit Utel increased its subscriber base by 47% MoM in October to 92,000 subscribers, according to the company ‘iKS Consulting’, which studies telecommunications markets in Russia and the CIS.

In October 2008, revenues from the provision of telecommunications services in Ukraine decreased by 2.5% compared to September, falling from UAH 4,007.918 mln to UAH 3,909.746 mln. This information was released by the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine.

On Thursday, November 13, the National Communication Regulation Commission (NCRC) announced it will start accepting applications from those companies wanting to purchase 3G mobile licenses in the UMTS standard in order to render 3G communications services.

The Open Joint Stock Company ‘Ukrtelecom’ [UTEL UZ, U/R] will launch its IPTV digital cable TV service in December 2008, according to an announcement made by Ihor Syrotenko, the company’s Deputy Chairman of the Board.

For its operations in the period July-September, Ukraine's largest telecommunications enterprise Ukrtelecom [UTEL UZ, U/R] reported losses of UAH 211.261 mln (approx. USD 34.35 mln at 1USD = UAH 6.15).

Ukrtelecom [UTEL UZ, U/R] has announced its plans to establish a 3G network covering the entire territory of Ukraine.