Mobile operator MTS Belarus has published a network rollout update on its website confirming that it has deployed 4G in the cities of Logoysk, Volozhin, Krupki, Myadel, Luban and Staryya Darohi in the Minsk region. In total, the cellco – a joint limited liability company controlled by state-owned Intercity Communications (51%) and Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) of Russia (49%) – says it is utilising more than 120 new LTE base transceiver stations (BTS) in the metropolitan region to support the network expansion, working in partnership with the country’s sole 4G infrastructure provider, Belarusian Cloud Technologies (beCloud).
The head of MTS Belarus’ commercial department, Nikolai Bulash, confirmed the company’s desire to cover almost all regional centres of Belarus with 4G this year. Currently, the cellco has deployed BTS in more than a hundred towns and cities across the country, including covering key high-population density areas such as the National Airport Minsk, the Republican Center for Olympic Preparation Staiki, the Industrial Park Great Stone and the Free Economic Zone Minsk, as well as hospitals, educational institutions and businesses.
In January this year MTS Belarus announced its intention to launch LTE services in 80 cities/towns in 1H18, including deploying additional base stations in areas where its advanced network is already present, to push 4G penetration to 70% of the population, including 95% of those living in urban areas, covering not only Minsk and Minsk region, but also in almost all regional centres across Belarus. Between January-June 2018 MTS intends to deploy at least 650 new LTE base stations – marking a near 80% increase on the 800 or so in use via a tie-up with beCloud at the time of the announcement.