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Albania: Mobile Telecoms Market Overview
Overview
Albania's mobile subscriber statistics cover Vodafone and Cosmote, although Albania now has a third operator, Eagle Mobile, who is not covered here as they only launched on the 13 March in the Durres and Tirana area.
Cosmote's network, then Albanian Mobile Communications, has launched a GSM 900 in May 1996 and in 2000 Cosmote became the controlling shareholder when Cosmo-Holding Albania acquired an 85% stake in the company for USD 85.6 million (Cosmo-Holding being wholly owned by Cosmote). Cosmote is still the largest network in the country in terms of subscribers, with 1.25 million at the end of March 2008, although Vodafone has almost caught up to the same level despite having been in the market for only half as many years.
Vodafone Albania is owned 51% by Vodafone International Holdings B.V. and 49% by Vodafone Panafon International Holdings B.V. (99.4% of the latter is owned directly and indirectly by Vodafone Group). Its network was launched in 2001 on the GSM 800/1900 standard.
Eagle Mobile, Albania's third operator went live on the 12 March 2008 using the GSM 900/1800 standard with equipment from Huawei. Although a 3G network launch was planned, it was delayed but the reason for the delay has not been disclosed. However, data cards currently being sold for use on the EDGE network are being advertised as having 3G capability useable when the network is upgraded, indicating that a launch is still planned.
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The Worldwide Directory of Mobile Network Operators 2008
Europe, CIS and Russia:
142 Pages - 210 Operators - 770 Named Contacts - 63 Countries
Click here for further details.
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