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Introduction of 3G services may be delayed in Azerbaijan

25 August 2009 16:55 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Aynur Veliyeva - APA-ECONOMICS. There is a big question hanging over the possibility that Azerbaijan-based mobile operators will make available 3G services by the end of 2009.

Aliyar Tamirov, a regulations officer at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies, said the ministry jointly with the Ministries of Justice and Economic Development is working on the development of appropriate rules for 3G licensing.

These rules are subject to approval by the Cabinet after September.

Following the publication of licensing requirements, cellular operators shall become familiar with them and apply to the Ministry for a license. One of the main parts of the documents is related to the availability of suitable radio frequencies.

According to unofficial information, most of the frequencies required for the introduction of 3G services have been at the disposal of a private structure for 15 years and this makes difficult the distribution of frequencies.

Given the duration of the procedures, the availability of 3G services may be possible at the end of this year, but the main point is readiness of the cellular operators.

Besides, the licences are expected to be awarded through tenders as in some neighboring countries.