Telekom Austria Group’s Belarusian subsidiary Mobile Digital Communications (Velcom) has announced the official launch of commercial services based on UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+ technology in Minsk and Gomel.

The cellco began offering new tariff plans for 3G data transmission packages in the areas covered by the high speed network. ‘The commercial launch of the 3G network has opened a new stage in Velcom’s activity in the telecommunications market of Belarus,’ said Helmut Duhs, CEO of Velcom. ‘We fulfilled the promises given to our subscribers in December last year and have rolled out the UMTS network with HSPA/HSPA+ data transmission technology in Minsk and Gomel in less than three months. This swift pace has been possible thanks to the work on the complex modernisation of transport networks, replacement of the switchboard equipment and R4 Architecture implementation,’ he added.

The company intends to extend coverage to all regional centres and big towns by the end of this year.