OREANDA-NEWS. December 24, 2007. MegaFon, the first pan-Russian mobile operator, declared the results of tender for construction of 3G network in Russia. Huawei and Nokia Siemens Networks became the winners of the tender. According to Alexei Nichiporenko, First Deputy of MegaFon’s CEO, “Partners, chosen on the tender basis, offered optimal conditions on the balance of price and quality. The offers of tender participants were evaluated considering operating expenses for allocation and maintenance of the equipment. We have positive experience of cooperation with both companies, besides, we were further reassured during reference visits to foreign operators, which networks are constructed on Huawei and Nokia Siemens Networks equipment. We will construct 3G networks in Russia in the areas with free frequencies, and in the areas, where this is economically feasible and there is demand for 3G services.” 

The selection of partners for construction of 3G network is preconditioned by the current technological strategy of the company using correlation between the offered price conditions and functionality, and also considering future maintenance costs. Allocation of vendors per regions will not be connected with geographical principle, herewith, this is the first time vendors do not retain exclusivity rights to supplies in each of the regions.

Huawei and Nokia Siemens Networks will supply MegaFon with controllers and UTRAN, the vendors will also conduct the whole set of works, related to installation of equipment, arrangement of technical support and training.

Volume of 3G investments in 2008 will amount up to 250 MUSD. MegaFon plans to construct 3G network on the basis of current 2G network without stoppage or significant reconfiguration of current GSM network. The company plans to construct 3G networks using HSDPA and HSUPA (3,5G), which allows to significantly increase the speed and the quality of data services.