In 1995, within the framework of the policy to introduce mobile communication the Government of Mongolia announced a tender for a license to provide mobile communication services. Mobicom was selected in the tender, and the first mobile phone service operating company was established with the investment of Newcom of Mongolia and KDDI Sumitomo Corporation of Japan.
The main requirement for a mobile service license was to establish a GSM mobile network in Ulaanbaatar within six months and to introduce a mobile network in Darkhan and Erdenet in two years. Mobicom fulfilled its contractual obligations and opened a mobile communication service based on GSM technology in Ulaanbaatar on 18 March 1996 and started providing services to the public.
Mobicom’s first network consisted of six base stations located at the Central Post Office, Institute of Physics and Technology, Mill House, and Aviation Hill. In the beginning years of the service, the cost of mobile phones and calls was high, but the first business plan to reach 2,000 customers was fulfilled in the first year due to the high demand for mobile services, which led to further price reductions. In 1997, the network was established in Darkhan and Erdenet under a license requirement.
The introduction of prepaid services since 1998 has had a significant impact on mobile phone demand in the market. With the introduction of this service in 1999, it was possible to introduce SMS service, WLL wireless fixed-line service, and Global roaming service. It is a 2G or second generation mobile network for making calls, texting, and sending text messages. In 2009, it was a 3rd generation (3G) network, and in 2016, it was a 4th generation network (4G) has been introduced by Mobicom.
Mobicom, the first mobile operator, now has grown into a corporation, became one of the leading companies in the telecommunications industry of Mongolia, and implements many social activities within the framework of social responsibility.
We would like to congratulate the customers, staff, and management team of Mobicom on the 25th anniversary of the establishment of mobile communication in Mongolia.