THIRD MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATION OPERATOR TO BE NAMED NO SOONER THAN IN MID-DECEMBER

ARKA
Sep 12, 2008

YEREVAN, September 12. /ARKA/. The third mobile telecommunication
operator is to be announced no sooner than in mid-December, Armenian
Transport and Communication Minister Gurgen Sargsyan said at a press
conference on Tuesday.

He said 17 companies applied for the license.

"The number of applicant companies shows that the country needs a
third mobile communication operator", Sargsyan said.

The minister said that France Telecom and M$A Tele2 AB, the companies
enjoying high ratings, are among the tender participants.

"It means that Armenian mobile telecommunication market hasn’t lost
its attractiveness", he said.

Sargsyan said that the third operator’s presence in Armenia will
drive prices for mobile telecommunication services down and improve
their quality.

He said the tender winner will be named in mid-October, but the final
decision will be made after completion of all necessary procedures,
including possible appeal by other contenders.

He said all the procedures are planned to be over by mid-December.

Orange company belonging to France Telecom as well as CEO Blackrock
Communication (England and Ireland) and M$A Tele2 AB (Sweden) underwent
preliminary qualification. They were found eligible to take part in
the tender.

17 companies expressed wish to compete, but only six of them – Orange,
0ACEO Blackrock Communication, M$A Tele2 AB, V-Tel (Jordan), Auroratel
(Russia), PJ Engineering (Finland) were found eligible for the tender.

The winner will get the license for 15 years. Under the tender package,
the third operator will spend 200 million.

Two companies operate in Armenia now.

Russian Vimpelcom is the sole owner of ArmenTel. Russian MTS holds
the control package of VivaCell.