Communications Ministry issues license for Nakhtel
By Amina Nazarli
The Communications and High Technologies Ministry of Azerbaijan has issued a license to Nakhtel, CDMA operator of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic to use frequencies for LTE (Long Term Evolution) network deployment.
Minister of Communications and High Tech of Azerbaijan Ali Abbasov announced about this on September 3.
"The operator appealed to the Ministry to get permission to expand its activity in the territory of Azerbaijan," he added. "Now, we intend to ensure its functioning on the basis of domestic roaming. Then the issuance of a license for the deployment of mobile services throughout the territory of Azerbaijan will be considered."
Nakhtel currently provides wireless communication services in CDMA standard by using the 800-900 MHz frequency band.
Earlier, Spokesman for the Ministry of Communications and High Tech of the NAR Farid Hajiyev commented on Nakhtel's plans for the construction of their own base stations.
He said that the first phase will involve the provision of telecommunications services and the Internet over the base stations of Bakcell, Azercell, and Azerfon mobile operators. This issue will be coordinated with the assistance of the Ministry of Communications and High Tech of Azerbaijan.
Economic expert Gubad Ibadoglu says that a new operator could boost the competition in the market to achieve high quality services.
He said the fourth mobile operator could drive cut in tariffs if
it provides a high quality service.
"The new operator may change tariffs if it succeeds to create
healthy rivalry in the market," he said.