Armenia’s widest 4G network to include 22 towns by yearend

PanARMENIAN.Net - VivaCell-MTS said on Tuesday, December 27 that it's expanding the first and widest 4G network in Armenia installed six years ago - in 2010 - making Armenia one of only dozen technologically advanced countries to have launched the network.

The introduction of 4G services was never an end in itself for VivaCell-MTS, the company said.

VivaCell-MTS did not make 4G services available to the population of Yerevan alone. Within a short period, owing to intensive work and considerable investments, VivaCell-MTS made 4G services available also in two other big cities in Armenia – Gyumri and Vanadzor - then the list of towns with 4G coverage went on to include Tsaghkadzor, Vagharshapat, Dilijan, Jermuk and Armavir, covering the 46.6% of Armenia's populated area.

The third stage of the expansion of 4G network coverage includes the following towns: Abovyan, Ashtarak, Yeghvard, Artik, Artashat, Berd, Kapan, Meghri, Agarak, Yeghegnadzor, Vayk, Stepanavan, and Spitak. By the end of the year, 4G services will become available to the 52.5% of the population.

“Six years ago, VivaCell-MTS first brought its 4G/LTE network to Armenia. Back then, the high-speed network was only available in just a dozen countries in the world. By the end of the year, owing to the network expansion activities, 4G services will be available already in 22 towns in Armenia. The development of 4G networks and provision of 4G services is important in terms of fostering the economic development and growth of the country,” said VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian.

Making 4G technology available in regional towns is aimed at ensuring availability of latest communication technologies in rural areas and minimizing the technological gap between the capital and the regions. As of today, VivaCell-MTS is the leading telecommunications operator with the largest number of Base Transceiver Stations and the widest 2G, 3G and 4G networks in Armenia. The 4G network of the telecommunications operator allows providing up to ten times faster connection in comparison with the 3G network.

The strategic significance of the deployment of 4G and 3G base stations is twofold: expanding the geographic coverage of high-speed Internet connection services and increasing the capacity of the network to address the growing demand for data usage.

In October 2016, VivaCell-MTS was recognized by Ookla International as Armenia’s fastest mobile network according to the results of device tests done during six months via the Ookla Speedtestnet application. The results are based on over 90 thousand mobile network speed tests in different parts of the country.