Azerfon JSC, the new mobile operator, is working over the installation of its network. Its first telephone numbers are expected to be put into operation till the end of the year. Azerfon is installing its network according to the schedule, and any delays are just because of the scale of the project, Ali Abbasov, Azerbaijan's Telecommunication and IT Minister, exclusively told Trend.
As for tariffs, the Minister said that the cost of international and inter city calls are approved by the Tariff Council of the Country and those are obligatory to al the telecommunication operators.
All other tariffs are applied by the operators in accordance with the economy, said the Minister.
He also said that being a new operator on the mobile communication market of the country, Azerfon must build such a tariff policy that could attract subscribers with the quality of its services and rates.
I think, with putting Azerfon into operation, the mobile communication sphere will receive additional investments, a more transparent atmosphere will be formed in the market, competition between the operators, as well as the quality of their services will increase, rates will be reduced and all that give an additional impetus to the general development of the whole sphere of telecommunications in the country, he said.
The first mobile communication services in Azerbaijan were presented by Bakcell JSC which was established in 1994. Azercell JSC, was established in 1996, and gave an impetus to the development of mobile communication services in the country. Today, the total number of mobile communication subscribers in the country exceeds 2.5 mln people. Needs of the population in mobile communication is intensively increasing, and by the decision of the Collegiums of the Telecommunication and It Ministry of the Country, in December, 2005, a license on rendering mobile communication services in GSM standard was given to Azerfon JSC.