AZERCELL
Coverage & subscribers:
At present “Azercell Telecom” JV controls 80% of Azerbaijani cellular communication market. The operator, which provides qualitative mobile communication services, covers 74.5% territory and 98.7% population of the republic. Now “Azercell Telecom” numbers over 1,750,000 subscribers.
Technical equipment:
For providing communication services “Azercell Telecom” has 10 Home Location Registers (HLR), 2 Subscriber Bases (SB), 12 Mobile Services Switching Centers (MSSC) and over 750 Radio Base Stations (RBS). During 2005 operator installed 248 new RBS in Baku and various Azerbaijani regions. In 2006 the company plans to install over 250 RBS.
International communication:
“Azercell Telecom” pays a special attention to development of international communication.
By present Azercell subscribers using “RoamCell” service have an opportunity to make calls in the networks of 265 operators from 120 world countries. In addition, “Azercell Telecom” is the first Azerbaijani operator, which has concluded agreements on MMS/GPRS roaming services with foreign companies, and now “Azercell Telecom” cooperates with over 30 operators from 18 countries in this field.
Investments:
During 2005 “Azercell Telecom” JV has invested $108 499 321 into development of cellular communication in Azerbaijan and during nine years- $406 872 192.
Taxes:
By the end of 2005 “Azercell Telecom” has transferred taxes worth $84 945 729 to state budget of the Republic and during nine years $230 090 582. In 2005 4.09% of state budget was formed at the expense of taxes paid by “Azercell Telecom”.
Tariffs:
“Azercell Telecom” JV regularly introduces new tariffs.
GencSim tariff packet specially designed for people young at heart envisages many privileges.
In 2005 “Azercell Telecom” JV extended term of use of SimSim cards. Now term of use of scratch cards with 10,000 AZM value (2 AZN) is 30 days, with 100,000 manat value (20 AZN) 180 days and with 200,000 manat value (40 AZN) 360 days. Term of use of scratch cards with 50,000 manat (10 AZN) value remained 90 days. In addition, incoming line of all persons, who have just joined SimSim family, stays open for 6 months. From November 3, 2005 all new SimSim subscribers are being presented 500 units.
Services:
The operator remains loyal to its principles of introduction of new and exclusive services for its subscribers. From the beginning of 2005, for the first time on the CIS space “Azercell Telecom” JV has offered to its subscribers absolutely new “ZengimCELL” (RBT) service. This service offers an opportunity to replace standard monotonous sounds by predefined sound effects and musical fragments chosen by the subscriber.
In November 2005 “Azercell Telecom” JV has called subscribers attention to another infrastructure of high-speed data transfer on the basis of latest technology EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution). EDGE technology, which is also known as EGPRS (enhanced GPRS), allows transferring data via mobile network at the speed four times higher, than through GPRS. At the end of year “Azercell Telecom” JV put into operation new “SimKredit” service. Now each subscriber could receive 150 units in credit by sending SMS with “KREDIT” word to number 9150.
In addition, in 2005 “Azercell Telecom” put into operation such services as “GizletCELL+”, “DostCELL”, “YukleCELL”, “TopluKonturCELL”, “ReklamCELL” and many others.
Lottery campaigns:
In 2005 “Azercell Telecom” JV launched “KonturPay” campaign for SimSim subscribers. During the campaign, which took place between January, 25 and May, 25 in 2005, SimSim subscribers have been presented additional units simply by loading units.
From July 1 to September 30, 2005 “Azercell Telecom” JV launched “Milyonlarin Kampaniyasi!” winning campaign for its subscribers. During the campaign Azercell post-paid subscribers as well as SimSim and GencSim subscribers won prizes and were presented with doubled balance by acquiring scratch cards.
During the campaign’s express-lottery tour 451 230 “Azercell Telecom” subscribers have increased their balance using scratch cards of various face values and during 12 drawings of the campaign 2 664 subscribers won various monetary prizes.
Within the framework of “Milyonlarin Kampaniyasi!” the honored singer Zulfiya Khanbabayeva, has made a concert tour “Canim Memleketim” to six regions and cities of the republic. The concerts “Canim Memleketim” have made happy over 600,000 viewers.
During “Azercell Telecom”’s “LotoMesaj” campaign that lasted from October, 1 to December, 31, 2005, each Saturday 225 subscribers who sent SMS and MMS won prizes. A total of 2 700 “Azercell Telecom” subscribers have won various monetary prizes in “LotoMesaj”.
“Azercell Ekspres” in Azerbaijani regions:
“Azercell Ekspres” offices, which have no analogues in the CIS and which combine such important functions as Sales, Payment Receipt and Customer Service, have been opened in Azerbaijani regions also. Now “Azercell Telekom” subscribers who live in Shamakha, Aghdash, Barda, Shamkir, Mingechavir and Lenkoran can be comfortably served at “Azercell Ekspres” offices. In 2006 operator will continue opening “Azercell Ekspres” offices in the regions.
Telecommunication events:
XI Azerbaijani International Telecommunication and Information Technologies Exhibition “Bakutel-2005” was held on October 26 - 29, 2005 in Heydar Aliyev sports-exhibition hall with participation of 100 companies from 20 world countries. At “Bakutel-2005” “Azercell Telecom” JV presented another infrastructure of high-speed data transfer on the basis of the latest EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution) technology. Therefore, having successfully tested and after put advanced technology into commercial exploitation, “Azercell Telecom” JV has started works to apply EDGE throughout the country.
II stage of World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) took place in Tunisia on November 17-18, 2005. Presidents of 24 states and heads of governments and ministers from 196 world countries have attended the summit. “Azercell Telecom” JV also took part at the summit. The participants have been shown a documentary film about “Azercell Telecom”’s activities.
Social programs and charitable activities:
Being loyal to its tradition, “Azercell Telecom” JV last year congratulated children in “Umid Yeri” (Hope) Children’s Home and Rehabilitation Centre on occasion of various holidays. Since the first day of its activities “Azercell Telecom” JV has become a reliable support to “Umid Yeri”. During nine years “Azercell Telecom” has provided financial and psychological support to return to normal life over 800 children deprived of parental care and home, who were brought up and studied here.
On occasion of Day of Solidarity of Azerbaijanis and New Year “Azercell Telecom” JV, close and caring friend of children, has invited about 2 000 children from Children’s Homes to the “Winter Tour” Circus program, a part of “African Lions” show!
It has become a tradition for “Azercell Telecom” JV to keep in the centre of attention of a low-income section of population. As a part of this tradition on May 10, 2005 the company donated food products to 1,000 internally displaced people living in Baku’s Narimanov region.
Organizational support and sponsorship:
The exhibition devoted to the 80-th jubilee of Vajiha Samedova and 85th jubilee of Latif Feizullayev, outstanding artists and honored workers of Azerbaijan art, has taken place in Sattar Bahlulzade exhibition hall through financial and organizational support of “Azercell Telecom” JV. May 31, 2005 - Last Bell Day - was magnificent and it will be stamped in memory of school graduates for a long time. On this day “Azercell Telecom” JV organized and held a beautiful concert with participation of famous Russian and Azerbaijani pop singers in the National Seaside Park. Simultaneously on this day “Azercell Telecom” has launched a new project GencSim.
As usual, in 2005 “Azercell Telecom” JV provided organizational support to World Calisthenics Championship in Baku.
On June 5, 2005 “Azercell Telecom” held “YUK!” competition among children for the best picture on asphalt in National Seaside Park on occasion of World Children’s Protection Day. A total of 250 schoolchildren from various Baku schools took part at the competition. “Azercell Telecom” JV awarded the winners with valuable gifts.
The interesting two-day-long project “Recollecting Genius” has been implemented in Azerbaijan State Philharmonic named after Muslim Magomayev through organizational and financial support of “Azercell Telecom”. The project was devoted to the 120-th jubilee of Uzeir Hajibekov. The quests that came to the concert could familiarize themselves with paintings of young artist Aida Mahmudova during the exhibition organized in the Philharmonic foyer and could also listen to five famous concerts for piano with orchestra by Ludwig Van Beethoven performed by talented pianist Murad Adigozalzadeh.
In 2005 “Azercell Telecom”, which always maintains close relationships with journalists, implemented several projects related to mass media. One of them was connected with traditional support to “Media Acari” prize.
“Azercell Telecom” JV has held telecommunication seminars with participation of foreign specialists to familiarize journalists with peculiarities of GSM field and provide them information, which has not been announced until now.
“Azercell Telecom” JV’s efforts are always being highly assessed. By the results of 2005 “Azercell Telecom” has been awarded the prize “Ugur-2005” in 2 nominations. Operator was announced as a winner in the nomination “Company of the Year” and its tariff packet GencSim in the nomination “Project of the Year”!
In 2006 “Azercell Telecom” JV will celebrate 10-th anniversary of its activities. We are always on our customers’ service!
“Azercell Telecom” JV press- service