MOSCOW, April 20 (RIA Novosti) - MTS, VimpelCom and MegaFon, Russia's three leading mobile operators, have been granted licenses to provide third-generation communications services.
Third-generation mobile networks, pioneered in Japan and South Korea, offer enhanced services, including high-speed data transmission. Experts say 3G technologies will help operators improve their range of services.
Given the limited frequency range, the Federal Communications Agency announced last December three tenders for 3G licenses on the condition that the winners start new services within two years of the license being issued.
The winners will have to coordinate their operations in each region with the Defense Ministry to avoid wave interference with military electronic equipment. The ministry has been opposed to assigning 3G frequencies to civilian organizations, citing security concerns.
