The telecoms regulator has included Ukrtelecom in plans for 2100MHz 3G licensing, despite the company owning the country’s only 2100MHz concession via its mobile subsidiary TriMob.
The National Commission for the State Regulation of Communications (NCCIR) initially planned to include only three GSM network operators; Kyivstar, MTS Ukraine and Astelit, but this week the regulator announced the inclusion of Ukrtelecom and Intertelekom.
“The regulator under licensing or tenders for 3G/UMTS licences must also limit the number of potential bidders to only those operators who do not have frequency resource in the 2GHz bandwidth by itself or through its subsidiaries, and are ready to invest and develop telecommunications,” said Andriy Osadchuk, director of regulatory and legal support at Kyivstar.
Ukrtelecom told a local newspaper that it was “surprised at accusations by Kyivstar that it is discrediting the holding of a tender to receive UMTS (3G) licenses with its participation in it”.
The NCCIR plans to finalise 3G tender conditions by the end of the month.
Political disturbances in Ukraine led VimpelCom to write down its Ukrainian business in March this year.
