Siemens and MTS have launched 3G trial

Siemens together with one of the largest mobile operators in Belarus – "Mobile TeleSystems" – has launched the trial area of 3G communication network in Minsk. This event has become the main topic of press-conference which was held on April 12, 2006 in hotel "Minsk".

In the press-conference took part: Deputy Minister of Communication and Informatization Nikolay Strukov, Head of Siemens AG Representative Office in the Republic of Belarus Andreas Berns, General Director of "Beltelecom" Konstantin Tikar, General Director of "Mobile TeleSystems" Vladimir Karpovich, Head of "Mobile TeleSystems" (Russia) Representative Office in Belarus Andrey Rumyantsev, Head of Siemens Communications department of Siemens AG representative office in the Republic of Belarus Axel Bluhm.

Head of Siemens AG Representative Office in the Republic of Belarus Andreas Berns underlined in his speech that Siemens, as the world’s leader in communication technologies, is interested in the creation and the development on the territory of the Republic of Belarus of 3G communication systems. Siemens has built for "Mobile TeleSystems" the trial area of 3G communication network in Minsk. The coverage area of trial network covers the center of Minsk and MTS headquarters. 3G network – is a perspective and a new level of mobile networks’ possibilities in data transmission on the basis of UMTS, HSDPA standards. Thanks to the high speed of data transmission it is possible to receive streaming video on the mobile phones, make video calls, watch mobile television, conduct high-speed data communication with the Internet.

General Director of "Mobile TeleSystems" Vladimir Karpovich stated: "Today Belarus proceeds from the industrial society to the informational one. Further development of the society will be carried out exactly on the basis of informational communications, in which connection the determinant success factors will be speed and convenience of receiving and transmission of the necessary information. Mobile communication is one of the most popular, and therefore the most perspective platform for the creation of information-oriented society. During last years the most advanced solutions has been built in the sphere of information transmission on the basis of mobile technologies. 3G and 3.5G technologies – are already a completely new level of reality perception by man, and therefore, the new level of his communication activity".

"3D Technology and its possibilities are comparable with a highway using which a large number of transport streams move simultaneously, freely and on a very large speed",— noted the head of Siemens Communications department of Siemens AG representative office in the Republic of Belarus Axel Bluhm. He also thanked the team of technical specialists, who in record short terms were able to launch the trial network covering Minsk and underlined coherence of Siemens and MTS actions. "For us it is very important to cooperate in the realization of this project with MTS, the largest mobile operator in the Republic of Belarus. The successful trials of UMTS mobile communication with the support of HSDPA technology prove the possibility of putting into operation of 3G networks in Belarus".

The project manager of Siemens Communications of Siemens AG representative office in the Republic of Belarus Kirill Mankovsky told about the technical characteristics of new equipment, objectives and tasks of test project. The technical specialist from Siemens Russia Andrey Naydenov demonstrated the new possibilities which have users as a result of the realization of project:

1. UMTS standard services:

• 3G video calls
Internet access (WWW, files downloading)

• Mobile television (national channel ONT and the First Music Channel)
• Streaming video from the web-camera
• Streaming video from any reproduction source

• Address book with the function of presence and indication of mood
• Combined services of voice and data transmission
• On-line games
• Interchange of multimedia content

Belarus-Russian limited liability joint company "Mobile TeleSystems" (MTS) provides GSM 900/1800 mobile connection services in the Republic of Belarus since June 27, 2002. The founders of MTS are Beltelecom – 51 % and Mobile TeleSystems (Russia) – 49 % of chartered capital. Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) is the largest mobile phone operator in Russia and the CIS, providing its services to over 60,3 million active subscribers, in a license footprint area covering a population of 233.1 million in 86 out of 88 regions in Russia and the entire territories of Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. From June, 2000 MTS shares are quoted at New-York stock exchange under the MBT code.