The company started rolling out its 3G network in November 2008 and currently provides services in the cities of Tashkent, Bukhara, and Samarkand, Coscom said. Coscom’s network supports HSDPA technology, which provides higher data transfer speeds and is often referred to as 3.5G, the operator said.

Coscom plans to invest US$250 million in 3G development in 2009 despite the ongoing economic slowdown, the company’s management said earlier.

Two other Uzbek mobile operators - Uzdunrobita, a subsidiary of Russia’s MTS, and Unitel, a subsidiary of Russia’s VimpelCom - launched commercial operations of their 3G networks in December 2008.

Coscom, a subsidiary of Nordic telecoms holding TeliaSonera, operates under the UCell brand and provides services to over 3 million users.