Bulgarian Telecommunications Company
Encyclopedia
VIVACOM previously named Bulgarian Telecommunications company (BTC) is the largest telecommunications company in Bulgaria
and a former state-owned monopoly
. Founded as a joint stock company
in the end of 1992 as part of the separation of Bulgaria's post and telecommunication services into separate companies, it serves a total of 2.6 million fixed phone lines and employs about 10,000 people.
In June 2004 65% of the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company were sold to Viva Ventures, owned by Advent International
, for €
280 million (about 380 million U.S. dollars). As part of the deal, BTC was provided a GSM operator license and launched Vivatel
, Bulgaria's third GSM operator, in 2005. An UMTS license was additionally purchased in May 2005. In May 2007 the company was sold again. AIG
purchased both the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company and the third Bulgarian mobile operator, Vivatel
for total price of €
1,661 billion.http://money.ibox.bg/news/id_1502933922
Besides serving the vast majority of fixed telephone lines in the country, BTC is also the biggest Bulgarian ADSL Internet service provider
with 100,000 customers.
Icelandic-led Novator acquired a 65% stake for an undisclosed sum. In 2007 the stake was sold for £855m (about 1.2 billion U.S. Dollars).
VIVACOM TV Start will cost BGN 9.8 per month and includes 40 TV channels and 10 radio stations– in addition to the three main ones, the Bulgarian National TV (BNT), bTV and Nova Televizia, the package offers bTV Cinema, bTV Action, bTV Comedy, Fox Life, Diema, CNN, Euronews, DW, the sports channels Eurosport and RING.bg, Fiesta TV, Animal Planet, the musical channels MAD, City TV, T rock, Planeta Folk, Fen TV, Balkanika, the kids ones Е-KIDS and Super 7, among others.
The biggest package EXTRA includes over 70 channels for the price of BGN 17.80 per month.
The Vivacom digital TV can be ordered without long-term contracts, but one- and two-year ones offer discounts of 50% for the first three or six months.
The Vivacom digital TV further offers an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) for a week ahead and parent control tools.
Vivacom is adding digital TV to its already bundled services – stationary phone line, cell phone services, and internet.
Vivacom TV will air via the largest satellite operator Intelsat – a 15-year partner of the company. Vivacom plans to introduce in the very near future HD programs to its basic digital packages.
It also offers mobile broadband through its 3G network.
VIVACOM (then Vivatel) started offering mobile services in 2004, purchasing an additional UMTS license in 2005. HSDPA is also available as of 2009.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
and a former state-owned monopoly
Monopoly
A monopoly exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity...
. Founded as a joint stock company
Joint stock company
A joint-stock company is a type of corporation or partnership involving two or more individuals that own shares of stock in the company...
in the end of 1992 as part of the separation of Bulgaria's post and telecommunication services into separate companies, it serves a total of 2.6 million fixed phone lines and employs about 10,000 people.
In June 2004 65% of the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company were sold to Viva Ventures, owned by Advent International
Advent International
Advent International is a global private equity firm focused on buyouts of middle market growth companies in Western and Central Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia...
, for €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
280 million (about 380 million U.S. dollars). As part of the deal, BTC was provided a GSM operator license and launched Vivatel
Vivatel
vivatel was a mobile operator in Bulgaria. It started operating in November 2005, receiving a GSM operator license in June 2004 and an UMTS license in May 2005. The 3G network was launched in April 2007...
, Bulgaria's third GSM operator, in 2005. An UMTS license was additionally purchased in May 2005. In May 2007 the company was sold again. AIG
American International Group
American International Group, Inc. or AIG is an American multinational insurance corporation. Its corporate headquarters is located in the American International Building in New York City. The British headquarters office is on Fenchurch Street in London, continental Europe operations are based in...
purchased both the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company and the third Bulgarian mobile operator, Vivatel
Vivatel
vivatel was a mobile operator in Bulgaria. It started operating in November 2005, receiving a GSM operator license in June 2004 and an UMTS license in May 2005. The 3G network was launched in April 2007...
for total price of €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
1,661 billion.http://money.ibox.bg/news/id_1502933922
Besides serving the vast majority of fixed telephone lines in the country, BTC is also the biggest Bulgarian ADSL Internet service provider
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
with 100,000 customers.
Icelandic-led Novator acquired a 65% stake for an undisclosed sum. In 2007 the stake was sold for £855m (about 1.2 billion U.S. Dollars).
Satellite TV
The service is available beginning September 1, all over the country, with three basic packages with different program lineups.VIVACOM TV Start will cost BGN 9.8 per month and includes 40 TV channels and 10 radio stations– in addition to the three main ones, the Bulgarian National TV (BNT), bTV and Nova Televizia, the package offers bTV Cinema, bTV Action, bTV Comedy, Fox Life, Diema, CNN, Euronews, DW, the sports channels Eurosport and RING.bg, Fiesta TV, Animal Planet, the musical channels MAD, City TV, T rock, Planeta Folk, Fen TV, Balkanika, the kids ones Е-KIDS and Super 7, among others.
The biggest package EXTRA includes over 70 channels for the price of BGN 17.80 per month.
The Vivacom digital TV can be ordered without long-term contracts, but one- and two-year ones offer discounts of 50% for the first three or six months.
The Vivacom digital TV further offers an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) for a week ahead and parent control tools.
Vivacom is adding digital TV to its already bundled services – stationary phone line, cell phone services, and internet.
Vivacom TV will air via the largest satellite operator Intelsat – a 15-year partner of the company. Vivacom plans to introduce in the very near future HD programs to its basic digital packages.
Internet services
VIVACOM offers an ADSL broadband Internet service through its traditional copper telephone line and a FTH optical internet connection in Sofia. It is currently the largest ISP in Bulgaria. The company also owns the majority of the optical infrastructure.It also offers mobile broadband through its 3G network.
Mobile and fixed phone services
Fixed services are available through both the conventional copper line and the GSM network.VIVACOM (then Vivatel) started offering mobile services in 2004, purchasing an additional UMTS license in 2005. HSDPA is also available as of 2009.
External links
- Official website (in Bulgarian)
- Official website (in English)