08 June 2004 00:47
UMTS Forum: UMTS Forum and 3G Association Russia join hands at Moscow Workshop
The UMTS Forum (www.umts-forum.org) and Russia`s 3G Association (www.3gassociation.ru) have signed a co-operation
agreement confirming their common interest to promote the success of 3G/UMTS mobile systems in the Russian region.
The agreement was signed at a Joint Workshop hosted by the two associations held in Moscow this week (June 7th).
Titled `3G Cellular Communications Introduction in Russia`, the event included participation of operator and
manufacturer members of both organisations, as well as members of Russia`s telecoms administrations. Exploring 3G`s
future in Russia, the workshop featured presentations examining regulatory, spectrum, market, deployment and service
aspects of 3G/UMTS.
The workshop was introduced by Alexander Kiselyov, Deputy Minister of Informational Technologies and Communications
of the Russian Federation, who also delivered a welcome address on behalf of Leonid Reiman, Minister of Informational
Technologies and Communications. A speech of welcome was also presented on behalf of Vladimir L. Gorbachev, the First
Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Energy, Transport and Communications of the State Duma, Federal Assembly of the
Russian Federation.
With 3G licensing in Russia anticipated next year (2005), mobile industry players in the region have already
signalled the importance of 3G/UMTS in providing additional network capacity and new services, particularly in dense
urban regions where current cellular networks are becoming increasingly congested. With approaching twenty five 3G/UMTS
networks already launched commercially elsewhere in the world plus many more in trial, Russia has expressed its
intention to create a licensing framework based on the experiences to date of 3G network operators in other countries
while also considering the unique geopolitical and economic features of Russia.
"In Russia there already exists not only the conditions for deploying 3G networks, but also all the
capabilities", noted 3G Association Executive Director Andrey Skorodumov. "It`s widely believed that the
deployment of 3G networks across all Russia should take place even earlier than there is demand for them. This may
provide a unique chance for accelerated development of the country`s whole telecommunications industry."
"Thanks to its size and economic importance, the Russian Federation stands to gain particularly from the
benefits that GSM evolution to 3G/UMTS offers", commented UMTS Forum Chairman Jean-Pierre Bienaime "As well as
adding greater network capacity for voice and data services at reduced incremental cost, 3G/UMTS offers an exciting
platform for new services that will stimulate greater usage and ARPUs across the entire region."
Today, mobile networks are deployed in all the federal constituents of the Russian Federation, and together they have
over 42 million subscribers, of which more than 95% are subscribers of GSM networks. The number of subscribers continues
to grow rapidly and the average penetration level exceeds 30%, while in Moscow this figure is greater than 74%. Across
the Federation, the overall number of mobile phones already exceeds the number of fixed telephones.
About The UMTS Forum
Founded in 1996, The UMTS Forum is an international industry association that is committed to the success of Third
Generation (3G) UMTS mobile systems.
Bringing together players from across the mobile industry on a peer-to-peer basis, The UMTS Forum promotes the
technical and commercial success of 3G/UMTS.
Membership of The UMTS Forum is open to everybody with a commercial interest in 3G/UMTS mobile - including fixed and
mobile network operators, infrastructure vendors, terminal device manufacturers, regulators, media/content providers and
developers of 3G/UMTS services and applications.
About The 3G Association
The Third Generation Telecommunication Networks Operators Association (`3G Association`) was established in December,
1999. The 3G Association develops the common policy and co-ordinates activities of all the parties concerned in
deployment and functioning of 3G networks and development of perspective technologies in the industry. The 3G
Association represents common interests of its members at state organizations of the Russian Federation and abroad.
The 3G Association incorporates six major Russian cellular networks operators.
The Associated Members are the vendors, investors, local networks cellular operators, R&D centers, IT and
consulting companies, content and service providers, etc. The 3G Association co-operates with the state and
non-government institutions of the Russian Federation, with ITU, ETSI, The UMTS Forum, and mass media.
CONTACT: Victoria Dickson, Citigate Dewe Rogerson Tel: +44 (0)20 7282 2844 Fax: +44 (0)20 7282 8066 e-mail:
Victoria.dickson@citigatedr.co.uk Chris Solbe, Press Officer, UMTS Forum Tel: +44 (0)7956 388 798 Vladimir Pavlov,
Adviser, 3G Association Tel/fax: +7 (095) 748 31 74 e-mail: a3g@a3g.ru WWW: http://www.3gassociation.ru/
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