PCNET Company, specialised in Internet service providing, at the end of last week announced the launch of the first 3.5GHz broadband communications network scheduled for September. The investment is fully born by PCNET and amounts to $2.7 million.
The network will be implemented in 12 cities (Bucharest, Iasi, Cluj, Timisoara, Ploiesti, Constanta, Pitesti, Brasov, Galati, Targu Mures, Oradea and Craiova).
"These cities account for some 95% of the VPN (Virtual Private Network) services market," said Mihai Batraneanu, PCNET general manager.
PCNET's partner in developing this network is Omnilogic, one of the top players on the Romanian IT&C market, with 15-20% in market share, according to the company's management. The broadband communication service will be based on a BreezeCom platform supplied by Omnilogic.
PCNET obtained the licence to develop such a network in a tender organised by the National Agency for Communications and IT. PCNET's project for the tender was worked out together with Roland Berger consultants. The company later organised its own tender to select a partner company to supply equipment.
"At the moment, there are very few companies in Romania capable of coming up with efficient solutions to develop such a network. We have carried talks with Marconi for about three months, but Omnilogic won in the end," Batraneanu added.
The first 3.5 GHz-bandwidth communications pilot project will be ready this week and will operate in the Pipera area. The equipment will be installed at PCNET's HQ in Floreasca.
The 3.5GHz network will complete the ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) network in the capital, "as this mix is the best one for us to be able to service the outskirts of Bucharest, as well."
PCNET was established in 1993, with 40% in it bought by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for $1.5 million in 1999. Also in 1999, PCNET started developing the first ADSL network in Eastern Europe.
Communication channels on the 3.5GHz bandwidth are guaranteed and most suitable for the applications that have to run at their best no matter the traffic load.
The 2.4GHz bandwidth is not regulated by the authorities, so that any equipment can be installed on it. It is the 3.5GHz bandwidth that helps companies save lots of money, though, estimates Mihai Batraneanu.
Broadband communications licences for the 3.5GHz bandwidth have also been won by other companies such as RDS, FX Internet, Connex, Adisan, Logic Telecom, but no more than five of them will be able to actually develop a network, PCNET head feels.
"Other companies may have won the tender, but they did not buy the right to develop the network, because they couldn't find the money. The Ministry's requirement was that a 3.5GHz network should be implemented in nine months tops, with September 2001 as the deadline."
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