Beeline has transferred parts of radio frequency channels to its competitors Ucell, UMS and Uzmobile.

Republican Council on Radio Frequencies (RRCH) decided to uniformly redistribute the radio frequency spectrum. The new radio-frequency plan was planned to be implemented from 1 October 2017, but later the transition period was extended until 1 April 2018.

According to this document, from now on, cellular operators have the right to develop in the 900 and 1800 MHz bands not only a purely "voice" 2G standard, but also 3G and 4G technologies. Simply put, this will allow mobile operators to provide faster and more efficiently even the most remote settlements of the country with high-speed Internet.

Commenting on the event, Dmitry Shukov, Director General of Beeline, said: "The transition to new radio frequency channels is an excellent example of the flexible and progressive approach of the regulator to the management of the industry. Based on my personal long-term experience in the field of communications, I can say that redistribution of frequencies is a complex project requiring a long preparation and close interaction of the participants of the process at all levels. This is also a question of trust and responsibility to subscribers.”

As was planned earlier, on the last day of March the industry leader refused to use 47% of radio frequencies in the 900 and 1800 MHz bands. Thanks to earlier investments in the acquisition of new network equipment, this happened completely unnoticed for Beeline subscribers. In the near future, other mobile operators will also have to switch to a new radio frequency plan, using Beeline’s freed channels.

"The compromise reached with the Ministry of ICT and the RRCH in terms of time allowed us to prepare thoroughly, making the transition absolutely painless for almost 10 million Beeline customers, and providing technological neutrality in the 900/1800 MHz range is a real breakthrough in development of telecommunications, that in the coming months we will be able to take full advantage of it for the advance development of data services and the expansion of LTE. However, the successful implementation of such a complex project has brought to a new level a constructive goal and the consensus reached by the industry proves that the dialogue between the operators and the RRCH is not only possible but rather beneficial to all parties. The status of win-win in the radio frequency issue is the merit of the ministry, and ultimately the consumers won ", Dmitry Shukov said.