3G Trial In Croatia

Europe : With a mobile communications network of the third generation VIPnet established a connection with the four major Croatian cities and performed the first UMTS long distance call; by doing so it has confirmed its status of leading innovator on the Croatian market of mobile communications.

At today’s presentation of the trial UMTS network, VIPnet showed how the use of the communications technology of the third generation in Croatia will look like in the near future.

By placing calls to Zagreb, Rijeka, Osijek, Split and Vienna, VIPnet presented the first trial UMTS network in Croatia which was developed and installed in cooperation with Ericsson Nikola Tesla. Gordana Kovacevic, Deputy President of the ETK Company and Woman of the Year 2001 answered the first UMTS call at the Zagreb center, Goran Ivaniševic answered in Split, Sandra Bagaric in Osijek and Robert Ferlin in Rijeka. Boris Nemšic, CEO of mobilkom Austria, answered the first UMTS long distance call in Vienna. Data transfer at a speed of 384 Kb/sec was also demonstrated as well as the use of new applications using the UMTS technology.

"By presenting the first trial UMTS network, VIPnet is offering a vision of the future. VIPnet has presented the UMTS technology in Croatia before the launch of the 3G network by EU countries. This is also an important breakthrough in bringing Croatia closer to the European and worldwide trends. VIPnet wishes to enable the application of the newest telecommunications technologies in the Croatian citizens’ everyday life, but also to contribute to the positioning of Croatia as a country which is stepping with the EU countries through the introduction of the newest technological innovations" stated Josef Vinatzer, CEO of VIPnet.

Upon the introduction of the UMTS, i.e. WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), technology in mobile communications, Croatian customers will also be offered the possibility of data transfer at a considerably higher speed, information in real time and access to "live pictures" such as video streaming and video telephony. The customers of VIPnet will have so the possibility to check in only a few seconds the traffic report, weather forecast or sports results.

"The presentation of the trial UMTS network is a continuation of the preparations which began in 2001. The third generation of mobile communications will bring new services of data transfer and video streaming, which will make everyday life easier to the customers of VIPnet. With data transfer at a considerably higher speed, the UMTS technology will contribute additionally to the availability of information", stated Kenneth Gregory, CTO of VIPnet.

In view of the fact that the launch of public tender for the UMTS concession is expected soon, in the meantime VIPnet has shown how the use of the most modern communications technology of the third generation in Croatia will look like in the near future. With today’s presentation of the trial UMTS network, VIPnet remains consistent with its image of innovator on the market of mobile communications.