By the end of March, Regional Cellular Network, founded by Rossviazinform, MNTK Eye Microsurgery, and Millicom Inc, planned to launch the first part of its system into commercial operation, according to Natalia Rudenko of the technical department. At the first stage, the network will cover Krasnogorsk, Odintsovo and Khimki, where three base stations have been already installed. By the year-end it plans to expand coverage to the entire 25 to 30 kilometre area around Moscow serving 1,000 subscribers. The whole system, based on the equipment supplied by Motorola, will run at 800MHz using the AMPS standard. The installation fee will be about $1,000, with a monthly charge of $50 to $60 plus $0.60 per minute. The cost of cellular phones will vary from $800 up to $1,500. The firm anticipates that first of all the network should attract businesses based in the Moscow region that prefer it for its cheaper offices, as well as owners of private houses in the area. By the end of 1994 the firm hopes to resolve the problem of interconnecting Regional Cellular Network’s network with a similar Moscow network Biline which serves about 500 users. Natalia Rudenko says the agreement with the Moscow system was signed recently. If such a connect can really be made, Regional Cellular Network’s subscribers will get a valuable opportunity to access the network in both Moscow and Moscow region.
