Telecom

According to IKS-Consulting’s monthly statistics, the number of Ukrtelecom [UTLM UZ, U/R] mobile users increased by 5.7% MoM to 277.6 thsd clients in May 2009. Overall, the number of mobile users decreased by a meager 0.2% to 55.13 mln customers. The penetration level decreased by 0.2% to 119.6%.

According to the State Statistics Committee, telecommunications revenue increased by 2% MoM in May to USD 498 mln. Revenue from urban and rural fixed line services increased by a meager 0.1% and 2.9% respectively; intake from domestic long distance (DLD) and international long distance (ILD) was boosted by 23.9% MoM and 70.9% MoM respectively.

The National Communication Regulation Commission (NCRC), the state regulator, has announced new interconnect tariffs for F2M termination calls. NCRC has proposed a new tariff of UAH 0.45 per minute through the end of the current year and UAH 0.4 per minute from Jan 1, 2010. The interconnect tariff for M2F will stay at USH 0.25 per minute.

According to an Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine press release, the state agency decided to delay the implementation of the new interconnect rules based in motions from Kyivstar and MTS.

According to the information from IKS-Consulting, the number of broadband users (BB) increased by 11% to 1.7 mln. in 1Q09. Broadband household penetration rose by 3.5% to 8.5%. Revenue from the BB internet segment increased by 3%YoY to USD 71 mln.

According to an Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine press release, four mobile operators (MTS, Kyivstar, URS, Astelit), two fixed line providers (Golden Telecom and Ukrtelecom [UTLM UZ, U/R]) and two CDMA players (Inter Telecom and Ukrainian Telesystems) were indentified as monopolists on the interconnect market.

According to an Uktelecom [UTLM UZ, U/R] press release, the company increased its monthly base tariff for fixed line services by 15-20% for urban and by 10% for rural customers. The new tariff includes 200 free minutes per month as before. The price per minute in excess of the 200 minutes in the base package remains unchanged.

According to the State Statistics Committee, telecommunication revenue increased by 3% in April to USD 481 mln. Revenue from urban and rural fixed line services dropped by 2.5% and 1.9% respectively.

In 1Q09, the number of Ukrtelecom [UTLM UZ, U/R] internet users rose by 32.6% YoY to reach 680 thd unique users, according to a company press release.

According to a press release issued by Ukrtelecom [UTLM UZ, U/R], the company ended 1Q09 with a net loss of UAH 181.6 mln (USD 23.6 mln). Net revenues for the same period increased by 0.9% to UAH 1,678 bln (USD 217.9 mln).