As earlier reported, the UzACI warned UNITEL, the second largest Uzbek mobile operator, its license could be revoked if further network disruptions are encountered.

The agency had written to UNITEL, renders services under Beeline brand, regarding an outage that lasted for 3.5 hours on the morning of November 14, depriving the city of Tashkent and its environs and the Syrdarya region of mobile services. Disruptions in the UNITEL networks have been reported in other regions of Uzbekistan.

In addition, the State Communications Inspectorate has been receiving more and more complaints from subscribers about the quality of services.

The inspectorate told Unitel in writing in October and November to eliminate its network problems, but this was not done. The UzACI plans to suspend or withdraw the Unitel license if the violations are repeated.

The UzACI’s website said the UNITEL carried out corresponding work to improve quality of services, rendered to users in Tashkent city, Tashkent and Syrdarya regions.

The agency added that the operator adopted all necessary measures to eliminate all shortages and inform its users on disruptions.

UNITEL is 100% subsidiary of Russia’s Vimpelcom. Vimpelcom in early 2006 completed a deal for the second largest mobile phone operator in Uzbekistan UNITEL. It acquired the operator from an international consortium led by Germanos S.A. of Greece. UNITEL began offering its services under the Beeline trademark in September 2006.

There are five mobile phone operators in Uzbekistan: Uzdunrobita (controlled by MTS) , UNITEL, Coscom, Perfectum Mobile and Uzbektelekom Mobile, a branch of Uzbektelecom.