Russia’s mobile operator VimpelCom has recently announced the commercial launch of a 3G network in four cities: Saint Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara and Chelyabinsk. The networks currently cover the central and some of the most densely populated districts in these cities, and VimpelCom expects that during 2008 coverage will be extended to bedroom communities.
Along with the 3G network launch, the mobile operator has introduced seven tariff plans to “make broadband Internet access available to a wide range of users.”
Commenting on the announcement, VimpelCom’s Diana Samoshkina said: “Our 3G product is targeting not so much mobile subscribers as residential Internet users who will be able to access the web via our GSM/UMTS USB modems which work both in 3G and 2G networks.”
VimpelCom plans to launch 3G networks in around 40 cities by the end of 2008.