3G License Granted in Northern Cyprus

The telecoms authority for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has granted a 3G license to Turkish operator, Turkcell last Friday. Turkcell launched its network in Northern Cyprus in July 1999. Vodafone, which through its acquisition of Turkey's Telsim also operates a GSM network in Northern Cyprus is also expected to be granted a 3G license shortly.

"Turkish Cypriot mobile phone subscribers will be able to use the new system that enables video data transfer and faster internet access in autumn, the latest," Salih Usar, TRNC Transportation Minister, told reporters at the ceremony.

According to figures from the Mobile World, Turkcell is estimated to have had some 278,000 subscribers in Northern Cyprus at the end of last September - while Vodafone had around 104,000.

Last week, MTN launched a HSDPA upgrade to its network covering Southern Cyprus.

Posted to the site on 16th March 2008