Belarus boasts a robust technology landscape, with its telecommunications infrastructure showing significant advancement over the past decades. One unique challenge Belarus faces is its largely uniform topography and distribution of population, creating an equal demand for telecommunications across the country. To address this, Belarus has developed an extensive broadband network, covering both rural and urban areas, utilising fibre-optic technology to ensure fast and reliable connectivity. Regions like Minsk host high-tech parks that leverage this infrastructure, which until 2022 made Belarus an attractive location in Eastern Europe for tech investments.
Belarus has an unusual method of deploying celluar services, whereby the government has elected a single infrastructure provider Belarussian Cloud Technologies (beCloud) to construct the physical radio access network which is in turn leased to the mobile operators. This government initiative forms part of the "Unified Republican Data Network". By the end of 2018 LTE technology was implemented in all regional centres and other residential areas with a population of more than 50,000 people.
Mobile Network Operators
The are 3 companies operating mobile networks in this region.
A1 Belarus, originally known as JV LLC Mobile digital communication, is the largest private telecom, ICT and content service provider operating in Belarus. The company began commercial operations on 16 April 1999, making it the first GSM carrier in the country. By the summer of 2000, all regional cities of Belarus had been connected to the network. In 2007, mobile communications became available to 100% of Belarus's urban population. Ownership of A1 Belarus transitioned to A1 Telekom Austria Group in November 2007, following the acquisition of 70% of shares. The remaining 30% of shares were...
Belarusian Telecommunications Network CSJC began operations in November 2004, and obtained its GSM licence in March 2005. The joint stock company was formed between government-owned Beltelecom, and a now defunct government-owned research firm. In 2008 the company was purchased by Turkcell, with the government retaining a minority share.