Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend S.Babayeva, S.Ilhamgizi / 3G communication services may be applied in Azerbaijan in the first half of 2008, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Communications & Information Technologies, Ali Abbasov, said.
"Already three GSM operators in Azerbaijan [Azercell Telecom, Bakcell and Azerfon] are holding talks between themselves," the Minister said.
According to Abbasov, the State Commission on Management of Radio Frequencies allocated necessary frequencies to these companies to apply 3G.
3G standard was projected and designed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and its name is IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunications 2000). 3G is a set of services which unite high-speed mobile network with Internet and radio. It enables video-telephone communication, watching films and TV programs on mobile phone, etc.
According to the forecasts of Azerbaijan Government, in 2008 the number of subscribers of the mobile communications in the country will reach 5.2mln. This figure in 2009 may reach 5.9mln, in 2010 - 6.2mln, in 2011 - 6.8mln.
Currently the number of the mobile subscribers in Azerbaijan exceeds 4mln. Three GSM operators are functioning in Azerbaijan. Large part in the market falls on Azercell Telecom which posses 2.8mln subscribers, Bakcell - more than 700,000 and Azerfon JV - more than 300,000.