Competition among telecommunation operators has intensified against the background of a service that was launched in January, 2016 where one can switch an operator while retaining their MNP number (Mobile Number Portability). Subscribers’ choice of mobile operator, among other things, is based on the level of services provided. In this context, the works on the development of network quality are of top priority for the leading telecom operator and are actively performed throughout Kazakhstan. “Kcell” Company still counts on the quality of its services and attains excellent results in this direction.
In January, the company continued to work actively on cluster optimization, having fully finished the work in the central areas of the largest cities of Kazakhstan: Almaty, Astana and Shymkent. Kcell and active subscribers have experienced the results of ongoing works: voice calls quality significantly improved, the number of cut off calls decreased while Internet connection speed increased significantly. Company engineers have improved cellular communication quality in the above cities, among other things by adding additional equipment at the 3G base stations, resulting in almost doubling network bandwidth capacity in some areas of Almaty.
The Company continued to set up 2G and 3G base stations to improve coverage with voice communication and mobile Internet throughout Kazakhstan. A total of 19 base stations were established during January of 2016, of which more than 50% operate in the 3G network, making “Kcell” mobile Internet available to a greater number of Kazakhstanis. At the same time, in both capitals and in some regional centers base stations were added to enhance signal transmission for voice communication and mobile Internet, and in one village “Kcell” mobile communication appeared for the first time.
This year “Kcell” continues to develop mobile internet access in rural areas. Thus, additional 3G equipment was set up in the village of Kushmurun, Kostanay Region, in the village of Shaiyr, Mangistau Region, which are homes to 9633 and 1425 people respectively, and in Ulytau village of Karaganda region with population of 2 thousand people. Due to this, the inhabitants of these villages have an opportunity to surf the Internet from their smartphones or tablets through the Company’s network.
Popular lines of “Hello, Kazakhstan” rate plan for activ and Kcell subscribers and of “Alga” rate plant for Kcell subscribers with an attractive package proposal stimulate increase of mobile Internet consumption, which in January 2016 amounted to about 1,5 million GB in Astana and more than 1,5 million GB in Almaty, which is 4% higher than consumption in December 2015 in these cities.