3G Launch in Slovenia

Slovenia's Mobitel has launched a precommercial UMTS network. Mobitel's present packet-based data transfer offer will be upgraded with two new options, which are tailored especially for UMTS users, otherwise the tariffs are the same as for existing GSM subscribers who upgrade. New 3G users will be offered different tariffs.

Mobitel reports a constant and steep increase of CSD, HSCSD and GPRS data transfer (since the introduction of Planet portal 15 February 2003, data transfer has increased by 300%), an increasing number of GPRS users (currently exceeding 115.000 - more than 18% of Mobitel subscribers), a sharp increase of visits on Mobitel's multimedia portal Planet (more than 315.000 users - more than 23% of Mobitel's users) and an increase in the number of applications using data transfer as means of communication among various devices. All of the currently available services relying on data transfer will run faster, some of them will only show their advantages after the introduction of UMTS. Furthermore UMTS will result in some new services presently unavailable due to insufficient transfer rates, e.g. simultaneous transfer of text, picture and sound, video telephony, transfer of moving and still pictures, etc.

During precommercial use period this service will be available free of charge.

During precommercial use period the coverage of UMTS network includes Ljubljana and Airport Ljubljana thus reaching 15% of Slovene population. Phase two of Mobitel UMTS network building is already in progress, aiming at national coverage of 62% of population - targeting especially urban areas. In areas with no UMTS coverage mobile phones automatically switch to GSM network.

Mobitel already signed agreements and established one-way UMTS roaming with operators of six countries, agreements with another two operators are currently being prepared. The use of UMTS in other networks will be available soon, as there is currently intensive technical testing made to establish UMTS roaming in certain foreign countries. In phase one UMTS users will have one mobile phone at their disposal (Motorola GSM/UMTS A835), while in the first half of 2004 users will be presented with a choice of other UMTS models.

From 12 December 2003 to 29 February 2004 so called Mobilatory (Mobitel Laboratory), a mobile classroom of digital communication, will be placed in the centre of Ljubljana. The Mobilatory will be opened daily from 10 AM to 7 PM, with special lectures on UMTS and other interesting areas of mobile telecommunications every weekday."

Posted to the site on 17th December 2003