page_title: A1 Belarus
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: A1 Belarus / History
context_page_description: Unitary enterprise A1 is the largest private telecom, ICT & content service provider in Belarus. The company provides GSM 900/1800, UMTS and 4G services. A1 is the second-largest mobile network operator in Belarus. A1 also provides ADSL, Ethernet and GPON Internet access services in all regional centers of Belarus, as well as in Bobruisk, Zhlobin, Rechitsa, Svietlahorsk and Dobrush, and IPTV digital television services under the VOKA brand. Until August 2019, the company conducted operations under the brand name velcom.
context_section_description: The company began commercial operations to provide mobile communications services and sell mobile communications devices on 16 April 1999 under the brand name JV LLC Mobile digital communication, and became the first GSM carrier in Belarus (the country's first cellular operator was the NMT carrier BelCel).
  Ten base stations (nine in Minsk and one in Oreshniki on the way to the National Airport Minsk) had been launched by the time commercial operations started. By the summer of 2000, all regional cities of Belarus had been connected to the network. Mobile communications services were available on the Minsk-Brest-Orsha highway and in settlements along the road. Since 23 April 2007, mobile communications have been available to 100% of Belarus's urban population. In April 2019, the operator launched the first GSM network in the Polesye State Radiation-Ecological Reserve.
  On 15 March 2001, the operator subscribers were enabled to send and receive texts (SMS), and in June 2005, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) became available.
  On 2 June 2003, the carrier launched the GPRS service. In December 2005, EDGE technology became available in three regions of Belarus.
  On 30 March 2006, the company became the country's first carrier to start testing the third generation of wireless mobile telecommunications technology. The 3G network was rolled out in only 27 days. The commercial operation of the 3G network in Minsk and Gomel started on 17 March 2010. In February 2016, the company became the country's first carrier to launch a 3G network in the 900 MHz band, and in May 2019, it further improved the capacity of its 3G network being the first operator to add a fourth RF carrier in the 2100 MHz band to its base stations.
  In November 2007, the company became part of A1 Telekom Austria Group as a result of the acquisition of 70% (in November 2007) and then the remaining 30% (in October 2010) of shares. Starting in June 2019, A1 subscribers will be able to use the Internet at domestic prices in the networks of the A1 Telekom Austria Group operators.
  In May 2008, the company had a rebranding campaign, changing its logo and name to Unitary enterprise velcom.
  In May 2009, the carrier signed an exclusive agreement with LLC JV BelCel on the provision of CDMA2000 broadband Internet access services (EV-DO Rev.A). The services were provided up until 16 May 2013.
  In 2014, VOKA digital television was launched, construction of the company's proprietary data center began and the official online store was unveiled. In May, 2020 the company expanded online trade chains and opened the first online shop . 
  By 2017, velcom had evolved into a major player in the Belarusian fixed-line communications market through the acquisition of a number of Internet providers. Also in 2017, the carrier became the world's first carrier to launch a commercial fully virtualized core network.
  In 2017, the company was licensed to commercially launch Belarus's first Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) network. As of 2019, the technology is available in Minsk and all regional cities of Belarus.
  Since April 2018, velcom subscribers have benefited from making Wi-Fi calls using the VoWiFi (Voiceover Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi Calling) technology. In the summer of 2018, velcom in partnership with JSC Reshenie Bank and Visa international payment system launched the virtual V-BANKING (rebranded A1 Banking in August 2019) cash back card to pay for a broad range of services.
  On 21 March 2019, A1 started to provide data services using 4G technology. By the end of 2019, 4G network has become available to A1 subscribers in all major cities in the 1800 MHz band. In December 2019, the company announced about three-year strategic partnership with infrastructure operator beCloud aiming to develop 4G mobile communications standard in Belarus. Starting from 2020, A1 will provide its infrastructure for base stations, as well as transport network based on hybrid communications lines, radio relays and fibre optic lines to make 4G network in the 800 MHz band available in rural areas.
  On 8 April 2019, the c
caption: velcom logo in 2008—2019