Top Exec Sees Ukrtelecom Sole Co on Ukraine's 3G Market Till 2010

KIEV, Feb 2 (Prime-Tass) -- Ukraine's national fixed-line monopoly Ukrtelecom is likely to be the only operator of third generation (3G) mobile networks until 2010, Igor Sirotenko, the company's deputy chairman of the management board, said Thursday presenting the company's 3G network development project.

"Other mobile operators are unlikely to enter the 3G market," Sirotenko said.

Sirotenko suggested that despite filing applications to get 3G license, Ukrainian mobile operators would not invest major sums of money in the development of their 3G networks, as their current equipment is likely to remain modern until 2010. The call price from mobile phones until that time is likely to fall to the price of calls made from fixed-line numbers.

Ukrtelecom received a license for operation in 3G mobile networks in late 2005, which is believed to have increased the company's value before the auction of the government's stake in the company. The auction is expected to take place later this year.

Ukrtelecom said earlier that it plans to invest U.S. $700 million in the development of its 3G network by 2010, expecting its network to cover 70% of the country's territory and service 29% of Ukraine

Posted to the site on 2nd February 2006