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Authorities refuse to renew license of mobile phone company BelCel

The telecommunications ministry has refused to extend the license issued to mobile phone company BelCel for providing wireless communications services.

The license expires on January 23, 2014, which means that the company will stop operating its mobile phone and wireless Internet network the following day.

When reached by BelaPAN, a spokesperson for the ministry said that BelCel would not have its license renewed for violating requirements attached to the license.

In particular, the company reportedly failed to extend its network coverage to the required level of 90 percent of the population, as well as to certain highway sections.

Founded in 1992, BelCel was said to have over 180,000 subscribers and was the country’s smallest mobile phone operator in mid-2012.

BelCel is currently co-owned by the Netherlands’ CIB BV and Dzharash, a Belarusian-based company involving Cypriot investments.

National telecommunications company Beltelecom had held a 50-percent stake in the mobile phone operator before its withdrawal in March 2012. Explaining its exit, Beltelecom cited differences with the company's co-owners over its development.