Ukrainian communication operators are thinking about the introduction of LTE technology right away in the light of the lack of progress of the competition for UMTS licenses.
Operators Beeline, Intertelecom and MTS Ukraine discussed the prospects of this approach with Motorola, Huawei, Alcatel-Lucent, Vlad Plus K and InterBas 4C during the Roundtable of theAssociation of Market Members of Wireless Data Transmission Networks .They also discussed the principles of the technology neutrality, rate increase for operators, etc.
According to Oleg Sobolev, executive director of the Association, the topic of introducing LTE inUkrainearouses growing interest against the background of the continuing non-issuance of licenses for 3G (UMTS), the forthcoming EURO 2012, the appearance of equipment for LTE, the emergence of new projects already in this field."The association has been conducting a wide discussion of the topic of introducing LTE inUkrainesince last year.We are now proceeding to action," he said.
There was also a suggestion at the event to form, from the interested members of the Association with the assistance of international experts, a working group to study the issue of the introduction of the principle of technology neutrality inUkraine.All the pros and cons of this direction, as well as the possible prospects for the Ukrainian communications market, were well-reasoned.
Intertelecom raised the issue of a possible 8-times rate increase for telecom operators.This company was invited to chair an Association working group for comprehensive consideration of this matter with the assistance of other interested operators.
