Vimpelcom announced that its subsidiary in Uzbekistan has been granted a 15-year extension to its operating licence. The decision by the Uzbekistan regulatory authorities to extend the licence follows an application submitted earlier this May and takes into consideration the company's plans for further development of its telecommunications network.
Uzbekistan is a key market for Vimpelcom, the company said. It operates under the Beeline Uzbekistan brand and provides 2G, 3G and 4G communications and digital services to 9.5 million customers. Vimpelcom has invested more than USD 1 billion in Uzbekistan since 2006 and has paid more than USD 950 million in tax, making it one of the country’s top taxpayers.
The operator covers 88 percent of the Uzbekistan population with its 2G network, 52 percent with 3G, and is now preparing to significantly expand LTE services. It did not say whether there was a fee or conditions attached to the licence extension. Beeline Uzbekistan was founded in 1996.
