Velcom says 3G/3G+ network available to 100% of the urban population

Mobile Digital Communications (Velcom) of Belarus has revealed that as at 31 December 2012 its 3G/3G+ mobile networks were available to 100% of the urban population, while voice services coverage extended to 98.9% of the total population of the Republic. Tut.by reports the carrier as saying that under the latest network rollout plan, the 3G/3G+ network was made available to people living in Shchuchin in Grodno region, as well as in: Bogatyrev Minsk district, Gatovichi Myadel district and Turets Boyars Molodechno district (all Minsk region); Stolovich Baranovichi in Brest region; Osveja Verkhnedvinsk in the Vitebsk region; and Lubca Novogrudok in Grodno region. The carrier has upgraded its networks with dual-carrier (DC) HSPA technology in 102 locations, while works to improve coverage and increase network capacity of its 2G/2.5G have also been carried out. Velcom says that in 2013 it will continue to extend its operational footprint, initially focusing on the deployment of advanced data-based mobile services to more parts of Minsk, Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno, Dyatlovo, Novogrugok, Kuleshov and Kostyukovici.