Unitel Director-General Andrei Safronyuk said in interview to InfoCOMUz magazine that the company plans to complete construction of 3G network in Tashkent city by the end of the first quarter of 2011 and after that in other regional centers.

He said that the strategy of the company on 3G development in Uzbekistan envisages to cover tens of cities as broadband Internet is required anywhere and the company wants to contribute to development of internetization in Uzbekistan.

Andrei Safronyuk also underlined that Beeline plans to develop FTTB network (Fiber To The Building). “We are planning to lay optic fiber network in Tashkent for the first time. In the center of Tashkent, here is FTTB test zone and soon mass subscription can be expected,” he added.

Beeline launched the first 3G network in Uzbekistan for commercial use on 2 December 2008. The network supports HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) protocol. On 28 August 2010, the company launched similar networks in five cities of Ferghana valley. In November, the operator started test exploitation of 3G network in Samarkand.

HSPA standard, supported by 3G networks of Unitel, ensures full-scale access to broadband internet both with 3G handsets and 3G-modems of Beeline.

Currently, Beeline constructed large FTTB networks in Uchquduq and Zarafshan cities of Navoui region. FTTB network will ensure users to access Internet and allow users to exchange traffic among connected houses for free. FTTB technology allows connect to network via optic-fiber cable, which does not require telephone line and modems, or other equipment.