Orange Armenia receives additional radio frequencies

Orange (Armenia), the mobile start-up owned by France Telecom (FT), has been awarded additional frequencies by the Commission on Regulation of Public Services (PSRC) to expand its mobile network. PanArmenian.net reports that in its 17 November sitting, the PSRC issued Orange with spectrum – valid for ten years – to help organise its radio relay lines. Under the regulator’s decision the operator is required to launch services using the new spectrum no later than 1 February 2011. The additional frequencies will be a significant boost to the newcomer. In June this year Orange confirmed it was targeting 95% population coverage by end-2010. At that date Olaf Swantee, FT executive vice president for Europe and Sourcing, confirmed the group intended to invest USD50 million to achieve its rollout targets for Armenia.