Armenian cellular phone companies will be in competition starting from next year. The Central Bank plans on having three-four operators in 2007 and developing the market through new technologies. Minister of Transportation and Communications of Armenia Andranik Manukyan is currently leading negotiations on this issue and has even signed a memorandum. What’s unclear though is who will be the new investors in Armenia. Vice-director of the communications department of the ministry, Gevorg Galoyan, assures that with the new technological advances, citizens of Armenia will be able to, for example, watch movies on cellular phones or participate in conferences via the phone. The only problem is that the number 60 license provided to “ArmenTel” joint-stock company doesn’t allow the company to enter in the field as the 3rd operator. G. Galoyan is of the opinion that that license must be reviewed. He believes that even if the license is not changed, there won’t be any problem of including another operator. “ArmenTel” tends to differ in opinion. “168 Hours” found out from the company administration that there will be no second operator until January 1, 2009. The company assures that there hasn’t been any official announcement, so they can’t give further explanation.
