VimpelCom Invests $150 Mln in Uzbekistan in 2006

TASHKENT, Feb 2 (Prime-Tass) -- Russia's second largest mobile operator VimpelCom invested US$60 million in 2006 in the development of its Uzbek unit, Unitel, the Uzbek operator's General Director Yevgeny Ruban told reporters Friday.

The investments were spent on increasing the number of Unitel base stations 90% to 600 units, opening four new branches and introducing various technologies, Ruban said.

Unitel's user base rose to 766,000 as of late 2006 from 350,000 as of early 2006, Ruban said. The company plans to increase its subscriber base to 2 million users by the end of the year from its current 901,000 users, he added.

VimpelCom bought 100% in Unitel in January 2006. Also in January, VimpelCom bought 100% in Uzbekistan's fourth largest mobile operator Buztel, merging the two acquired companies in July.

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Posted to the site on 4th February 2007