Plus Communication
 Plus, the first Albanian celphone company | |
| Type | Telecommunication |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | June 2009, 26 |
| Headquarters | Tirana, Albania |
| Area served | Albania |
| Key people | Director: Board of Directors[1] |
| Services | Telecommunications |
| Employees | 400 (2012) |
| Website | www.plus.al |
Plus Communication SH.A. (Albanian: PLUS) is a telecommunication company headquartered in Tirana, Albania.[2] It is the first Albanian mobile telecommunication company and 4th mobile operator in Albania. It is also the sponsor of the Albanian football team.[3]
Opening
The company's technological center was opened on 28 November 2010, a day that represents the Albanian Independence Day and it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Sali Berisha.[4]
International relations
PLUS has established trade agreements with several national and international companies for the establishment and maintenance of the network. Some of the partners are: Nokia Siemens that has been selected as the supplier of the RAN (Radio Access Network) and Core Network equipment (plant), NEC was selected as the supplier of backbone network and its connections microwave, Comverse is selected the company to deliver equipment BSS/VAS (charging and value-added services).[5]
Services
Currently, PLUS has more than 97.9% coverage of the population and it is expanding more and more every day. Zona PLUS shops and points of sale are present throughout Albania, representing one of the key elements, not only to offer its products and services, but also for the direct contact between PLUS and its customers.[6]
PLUS products and services are such as “Choose your number”, presented since the first day of PLUS launching in the market, “PLUS Special” etc. Products for prepaid customers include “PLUS Unik” & “PLUS Student” tariff plans. Postpaid customers, individuals or businesses may choose “PLUS Personal” or “PLUS Partner” tariff plans along with a variety of designated bundles.[7]
Plus is the only operator in Albania not to have 3G technology. In February 2012 a tender for the third 3G license in Albania where the minimum acceptable price was €12.5 million failed after Eagle mobile offered €3.55 million and Plus offered €3.55 million.[8] Another tender was held in October of the same year. This time it was for two 3G licenses and the starting bid was 4 million euros.[9] Eagle Mobile offered 4.355 million Euros while Plus only 1, making Eagle Mobile the only one to acquire the 3G license. The first 3G license was won by Vodafone Albania, bidding 31,4 million Euros and the second one by AMC after a 15,1 million Euros bid.[10]
Market share
Albania had in 2012 5.3 million subscribers (187% penetration rate), out of which there were 3.2 million active users (114% penetration rate). An active user is the number of users that communicated in the last three months.[11]
The regulatory authority for telecommunication in Albania is the Electronic and Postal Communications Authority.
| Rank | Operator | Technology | Subscribers (in millions) | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vodafone | GSM-900/1800 UMTS, HSPA, HSPA+ | 1.839 or 34.76% (2012) | Vodafone |
| 2 | AMC | GSM-900/1800 UMTS, HSPA, HSPA+ | 1.736 or 32.82% (2012) | Cosmote and Deutsche Telecom |
| 3 | Eagle Mobile | GSM-900/1800 | 1.304 or 24.66% (2012) | Albtelecom |
| 4 | Plus | GSM-900/1800 | 0.410 or 7.76% (2012) | Plus Communication |
See also
References
- ↑ PLUS Communication
- ↑ TV Klan about Plus (Albanian)
- ↑ Plus.al sponsorship
- ↑ Top Channel about plus (Albanian)
- ↑ PLUS Communication
- ↑ PLUS Communication
- ↑ PLUS Communication
- ↑ "Third 3G tender ends in failure". TeleGeography.
- ↑ "Albania to Auction Two 3G Licenses". BalkanInsight.
- ↑ "3G license with two offers, 4 Million and 1 Euro". Albanian Screen.
- ↑ "2012 yearly report (in Albanian)". Electronic and Postal Communications Authority. AKEP. Retrieved 7 June 2013.