Republic

MINSK, 1 December (BelTA) - Yota Bel began the construction of the LTE network in Mogilev, Brest and Gomel, Vice President of Yota Group Egor Ivanov told journalists today, BelTA has learnt. The company plans to implement a pilot launch of the LTE network in these cities. The company launched the network in Minsk and Grodno on 1 December. However, the network covers only the central parts of these cities. The company has spent millions of dollars to implement the project. The operator intends to reach the break-even point in one year. CEO at Yota Bel Sergei Bespalov admitted that he is dreaming to sell off all the modems they have brought to the country (around 2,000) in one week. Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Andrei Savinykh, who was present at the event, noted that with the launch of the LTE network Belarus has made it to the list of the countries (total 21 of them) where such technology is available to regular users. “This will significantly advance Belarus in the international ranking of the countries with the highest ICT index and improve the perception of Belarus as a country with innovative economy,” he said. Representatives of the company noted that the license gives them the right to provide data transmission services only. "We have restrictions on the provision of voice services. Moreover, we are not planning to develop this service,” said Sergei Bespalov. Yota Bel is part of WiMAX Holding Ltd. that provides wireless telecommunication services through its subsidiaries, primarily in Russia and Nicaragua (Yota brand). The company received two duplex frequency bands 30MHz each in Belarus to deploy a data transmission network.

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