The company also increased the internet access speed through 3G networks in Transylvania to 14.4 Mbps, following investments set to exceed EUR110 million this year.
“This is the fastest speed that can be achieved in a 3G network,” said Fallacher. He added that the operator has also invested in expanding coverage in rural areas as well as in cities, including at the Bucharest metro. “Basically all metro equipment has been changed, and the download speed was raised to 21.6 Mbps,” specified Madalina Suceveanu, Orange’s technical manager, who coordinated the project.
In mid-2012, Orange will offer 3G data services nationwide at download speeds of up to 14.4 Mbps. Orange bought the network equipment from Huawei (China) and Alcatel Lucent (France).
Jean-Francois Fallacher added that in the Orange network there are over 500,000 active smartphones – double as many as in the preceding year, around 150,000 of which are manufactured by Apple.
(English version by Daniela Stoican)