- Mr. Memiguven, Ucell has been working in Uzbekistan market for more than three years now. And we know that your company is a member of one of the largest telecommunications groups in the world, TeliaSonera. Tell us about the activities of TeliaSonera in the global market.

- TeliaSonera is leading European group in mobile communication, fixed and broadband data among the Nordic and Baltic countries. It is the leader in the Nordic and Baltic countries, as well as in the developing markets of Eurasia. By working together with key industry representatives in the Nordic countries, TeliaSonera invented and introduced technology of mobile communication, which is now an integral part of our lives. Today we continue our path as a pioneer in telecommunications market, which began over a century ago. In the mid-1990’s, the company got interested in Eurasian markets. Today TeliaSonera Eurasia has its subsidiaries in Kazakhstan (Kcell), Azerbaijan (Azercell), Georgia (Geocell), Moldova (Moldcell), Tajikistan (Tcell), Uzbekistan (Ucell) and Nepal (Ncell), and it is the largest minority shareholder in big companies like MegaFon in Russia and Turkcell in Turkey. TeliaSonera’s annual revenue reaches 12 billion euros and there are about two hundred million subscribers worldwide.

TeliaSonera was first in the world to commercially launch high-speed mobile internet access services based on 4G/LTE technology. These services first became available in Stockholm (Sweden) and Oslo (Norway) in December 2009, and today they are available in all Nordic and Baltic countries. We are actively considering the introduction of this technology in Eurasian countries as well. TeliaSonera is a major industrial investor which plays an important role in the development of infrastructure and economy of the countries where it operates.

- Why has TeliaSonera decided to start business in Uzbekistan?

Uzbekistan is a very attractive country for investment. It is the most densely populated state in the heart of Central Asia with a lot of dynamic young people. When we came to the Uzbek telecommunications market, the mobile penetration level was low and there was a great demand for mobile services.

- What is the market share of your company in Uzbekistan?

According to our calculations, today Ucell holds 34% of Uzbek mobile market and is a strong leader in mobile data usage. When we came in Uzbekistan in 2007, we had only 10% of the market and just in one year our market share reached 22%. In the following years we expect an increase by one or two percent. Today we are not trying to hold the entire market, but to be the first in the hearts of people and be closer than ever to our subscribers.

- What is the current penetration level of the Uzbek market, and is there any potential for further growth?

- The telecommunications market is growing, because there is no limit to human needs. Each subscriber wants to make calls, wants to keep in touch with the family and friends, and needs access to the internet. You may notice that today mobile devices are becoming the most popular tools to access the global network and soon mobile Internet may overtake the fixed one. However, today the growth in number of subscribers is not so intense. We expect a growth in terms of mobile data usage among mobile broadband subscribers as their needs and interests will grow.

- What is the volume of investments Ucell has brought in Uzbekistan so far?

- So far we have already invested around $600 million and in future years we are going to continue investing. In 2011 our company has invested about $100 million.

- Recently it was reported that the company is going to increase prices for its services starting next year. Why?

- During the last three years we have strongly reduced the prices for calls and there is no such a price for mobile communication in the whole planet. Look at Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan or even India - Uzbekistan is the cheapest market in mobile services. Ucell from the very beginning worked very carefully in this direction. We wanted to increase our market share and attract more customers so we lowered the price, and others followed us. At the same time the costs are growing and we have to make some changes in the prices in order to continue network development and offer our subscribers better network quality. The coming changes in prices will not be so sensible though and still stay as the lowest ones.

- Ucell always offers new, interesting and unique services. Do you already have anything to surprise subscribers in the New Year?

- You know it won’t be a surprise if I tell you now - it’s confidential. But, I can tell that as we are an innovative company we always work and try to surprise our customers. We want our subscribers to use the best mobile services with the best mobile devices in the best network. Just wait and see a lot of exciting things that we are preparing for you!

- As it is known, national holidays, when all people at once make calls and send text messages, are the most challenging time for mobile service providers in terms of network stability, and the New Year days are especially heavily loaded in this sense. How well Ucell is ready to handle such traditional overloading on the network in such moments?

- On New Year days, Ucell never had problems with network congestion in the last couple of years. Of course, it is very difficult to keep the network always running, but we successfully cope with this job. We are ready for additional loads on the holidays, for example, we have additional battery backups, solar panels. We constantly monitor our sites and fix them if there is a problem. If we can’t fix them we invest to establish the better network. It’s our everyday job.

- What did you know about Uzbekistan before you came here and how have your views changed after that?

- Of course I knew about your country, I have read a lot about the history of Mawaraunnahr (Transoxiana), read Alisher Navoi books. I had heard about the hospitality of Uzbek people, their traditions being similar to ours. When I first arrived in Uzbekistan I found it very beautiful and modern with fabulous cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and fell in love with this country.

Taking this opportunity I would like to congratulate the people of Uzbekistan on New Year, wish everyone strong health, peace and well-being to your families. Stay with us and expect more!