Now we have to find out what Velcom USSD requests exist. Given mobile operator offers a lot of different commands that allow you to obtain this or that information about the SIM card, as well as enable/disable certain functions. In general, USSD requests on Velcom are available in huge quantities. But we will consider only the most useful and popular of them. Maybe they will help you solve this or that problem more than once.
What is it
But first, let’s find out what our current needs are? Knowing this, you can understand whether you need them or not. Maybe you can do without them completely? Velcom's USSD requests, like those of any cellular operator, are nothing more than a means of subscriber self-service.
With their help you can control your phone balance, check and change tariff plan on the SIM card, implement different capabilities, as well as disable and activate certain services and options. The main advantage of such combinations is that they are free and can be activated at any time of the day or night. The main thing is to know what exactly you need.
Balance
Perhaps it’s worth starting with the main function - this is a USSD balance request and all the commands that will help you control the funds in your SIM card account. There are not so many of them, but there are some special ones among them.
For example, a balance request is made using the combination *100#. At the end of each dial, you need to click on the “Call” button. In response, you receive a message about the status of your SIM card account, and the result is displayed directly on the screen.
USSD requests from Velcom allow you to easily change the tariff payment system. To work without prepayment, you need to dial *145#. If you want to register some unconfirmed request, then *141*1# will help here. Basically, these are all useful commands for managing your account. We continue to study Velcom USSD requests further.
Tariffs
It's no secret that using these commands, any subscriber can change their tariff plan. Each offer has its own combination. You can find out complete information about this on the operator’s official website. After all, Velcom has many tariffs. It would take a very long time to list all the USSD commands for connecting them. So at the moment check with the operator.
Instead, we will try to learn universal USSD requests from Velcom. The tariff plan you are currently connected to can be found out using *141*2*1#. In addition, the subscriber can receive his phone number by dialing *147#. Information about the Internet tariff plan is displayed after dialing *141*2*3*1#. Everything is easy and simple. In some cases, you receive an SMS message with all the information you requested, but often the data is displayed directly on the phone display.
Additional services
Now a little about interesting opportunities our operator today. Velcom also has its own USSD requests for them. “Favorite number”, for example, is added using *141*3*3#. After this, you can add this or that subscriber to the appropriate list.
In addition, please note that you are also able to activate some interesting and useful features with the help of our current teams. For example, you can connect the Internet, MMS, and security to your phone with one single request. With its help, you will also receive all the information about the mobile Internet that is available on the SIM card. To do this, dial *135# on your mobile phone and send a request for processing.
Sometimes you want to talk while roaming. Velcom USSD requests allow all subscribers to quickly connect to similar services. “Roaming” (international) is activated using *141*3*2*1#, and “International calls” can be activated by dialing *141*3*1*1#. It turns out that without outside interference, at any time, everyone is able to activate the services of profitable calls on a mobile phone abroad.
Services
Do not forget that Velcom USSD requests have one more feature. And it applies not only to this operator, but to everyone in general. These commands make it possible to enable/disable certain additional service packages and services. What can help us when communicating?
Let's say the "500 SMS" option package. To do this, you must type *119# from your phone. Please note that the request itself is free. But to connect this or that option you will have to pay according to the tariff. All available settings (Internet and MMS are included here) are received after sending *135*0#, and “Mobile Internet” is activated by the command *135*1#. As you can see, there is nothing difficult about this.
It is also worth paying attention to somewhat non-standard services. Velcom offers its clients a service. Oddly enough, it connects without problems using the USSD request *200*2#. "Melofon" is another service that subscribers often pay attention to. And it is activated through the combination *424#. In principle, this is all quite popular services, which you can connect yourself.
Help and inquiries
The last point we will consider is sending “homeless people”, as well as receiving reference information on the SIM card. Velcom allows you to do all this using certain USSD commands.
So, for example, anyone can request a call back (send a “homeless person”) for free. Dial *131*friend's number# and send the command for processing. Another Velcom subscriber will receive a free message from you asking you to call back. Sometimes this feature is very useful.
The balance of free SMS, MMS, minutes and Internet traffic also has to be checked from time to time. In this situation, another self-service command will help. It looks like *100*1#. If you want to know the whole list paid services, connected to mobile number, contact *141*2*2#.
Do not forget that the full list of USSD commands from Velcom is quite diverse. Sometimes you want to quickly look through it and select the desired function self-service. Anyone can do this very easily and simply. What is needed for this? Just submit a special request for processing. It looks like *141*9*1#. In response, you will receive an SMS message in which all available commands will be published. Unless this does not include requests to change the tariff plan (for a specific offer).
As you can see, Velcom USSD commands are varied. And with their help you can fully control the functionality of the SIM card. Don't be afraid to experiment. Remember that when you connect to a particular service, you will be charged a fee in the amount established by the tariff. All background information free.
New VELCOM tariff plan called PRIVET, GORODOK! has all the advantages of PRIVET services: no obvious subscription fee, the ability to control the balance in real time, instant connection, to which low tariffs have now been added outside the regional centers.
The cost of on-net calls for users of PRIVET, GORODOK! will cost from 50 rubles per minute, calls to a fixed network and networks of other domestic operators from 100 rubles, the cost of SMS from 37.5 rubles.
A distinctive feature of PRIVET, TOWN! – tariffing of calls and SMS depending on the tariff zone from which the call is made and the SMS is sent.
Basic tariffs (in rubles, excluding taxes) for communication services according to the PRIVET tariff plan, GORODOK! :
| Initial payment when purchasing the PRIVET kit | 10 000 | ||
| One-time payment for PRIVET activation | 4 000 | ||
| Subscription fee | 0 | ||
| Tariff for 1 minute of connection (billing for 12 seconds after the first minute of conversation) or for one outgoing SMS message of standard length | Tariff zone "Regional center" | Tariff zone "Region" | Tariff zone "Region" |
| On-net calls | 200 | 100 | 50 |
| On a fixed network, as well as in the networks of operators BelCel, MTS, BeST | 400 | 200 | 100 |
| Outgoing short messages (SMS) | 150 | 75 | 37,5 |
The tariff zone "Regional Center" includes all regional centers, "Region" - district centers. In this tariff zone, the cost of outgoing calls to all directions within the country and SMS is 2 times cheaper than in the "Regional Center" tariff zone. “Region” is the rest of the territory of Belarus. In this tariff zone, the cost of outgoing calls to all directions within the country and SMS is 4 times cheaper than in the "Regional Center" tariff zone.
The boundaries of tariff zones do not coincide with the administrative-territorial division of Belarus. You can determine the tariff zone in which the subscriber is located by receiving information messages. This function connected by the subscriber independently according to the instructions telephone set. Depending on the phone model, in the “Messages” menu section, you must enable the reception of information messages, and also specify the channel number – 49.
To connect to the PRIVET tariff plan, GORODOK! You must purchase the PRIVET kit at VELCOM branded sales and service centers or at the offices of the company’s official attorneys and activate PRIVET services. After activation, the subscriber has access to the PRIVET tariff plan. To switch to the PRIVET tariff plan, GORODOK! must be dialed mobile phone combination *126*3# and press the call key, then follow the USSD instructions.
Switch from PRIVET tariff plan to PRIVET tariff plan, GORODOC! existing subscribers of the company can also. The first change of the PRIVET tariff plan to PRIVET, GORODOC! free. All subsequent changes to the tariff plan are subject to payment according to the company's tariffs.
Let us recall that previously MTS offered its subscribers the “OPTIMA +10 (Regional)” tariff plan, which also used the principle of changing tariffs depending on the geographic location of the subscriber, but the current set of MTS tariff plans does not provide for any “geographical benefits.”
Story
The company began commercial activities to provide mobile communications services and goods on April 16, 1999 under the name Mobile Digital Communications LLC JV and became the first mobile operator GSM standard in Belarus (the first cellular operator is NMT - operator BelCel).
By the start of commercial operation, 10 base stations were launched (9 in Minsk, 1 in Oreshniki on the way to the Minsk National Airport). By the summer of 2000, all regional cities of Belarus were connected to the velcom network. Mobile communications have appeared on the Minsk-Brest-Orsha highway and in nearby settlements. Since April 23, 2007, velcom mobile communications have become available to the entire urban population of Belarus.
Since March 15, 2001, velcom subscribers have been able to send and receive SMS, and in June 2005 - MMS.
On June 2, 2003 the operator launched the GPRS service. In December 2005, EDGE technology became available in three regions of Belarus.
On March 30, 2006, velcom was the first company in Belarus to begin testing operation of third generation communications. -the network was deployed in 27 days. The commercial launch of the 3G network in Minsk and Gomel took place on March 17, 2010. In February 2016, velcom was the first in Belarus to launch a 3G network in the 900 MHz band.
Since November 2007, the company has been part of the A1 Telekom Austria Group through the acquisition of first 70% (November 2007) and then the remaining 30% (October 2010) of shares. In May 2008, the company rebranded, changing the logo and name to UE Velcom.
In May 2009, the company signed an exclusive agreement with BelCel JV LLC on the provision of broadband Internet access services based on CDMA2000 technology (EV-DO Rev.A). Services were provided until May 16, 2013.
In 2014, the official online store velcom.by was opened, VOKA digital television was launched, and construction of the company’s own data center began.
By 2017, velcom is becoming a major player in the Belarusian fixed-line communications market by acquiring a number of Internet providers. In the same year, velcom became the first mobile operator in a world that has launched a fully virtual mobile network core into commercial operation.
In 2017, velcom received permission to commercially launch the first narrowband NB-IoT network in Belarus, designed for the Internet of Things. As of 2019, this technology was launched in Minsk and all regional cities of Belarus.
In April 2018, calls over Wi-Fi using VoWiFi technology (Voice over Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi Calling) became available to velcom subscribers. In the summer of the same year, velcom, in partnership with JSC Bank Resolution and the international payment system Visa launched virtual card with v-banking cashback to pay for a wide range of services.
On March 21, 2019, velcom began providing data transmission services using 4G technology for subscribers of Minsk, Minsk region, and Gomel. Mobile Internet services using 4G technology are provided to velcom subscribers in the network of the infrastructure operator beСloud in the radio frequency range of 1800 MHz. At the time of the launch of the fourth generation 4G, velcom is used at more than 530 beCloud base stations in Minsk and Gomel, and also partially in the Minsk region.
On April 8, 2019, the company announced the start of rebranding. During the transition period until the end of the year, the dual brand velcom will be used in communications | A1. Then - a single brand A1.
Owners and management
Until January 2005, 69.9% of velcom shares belonged to the Cyprus company SB Telecom, 30% - Beltexexport CJSC, 0.1% - Beltelecom RUE. In January 2005, the state became one of the company's shareholders: it received 30.9%, SB Telecom retained 49%, Beltechexport CJSC - 20%, Beltelecom - 0.1%.
In 2016-2018, velcom conducted a number of transactions to acquire Belarusian Internet providers - Atlant Telecom (Minsk), Aichyna Plus (Minsk), Belinfonet (Minsk), Garant (Gomel and Vitebsk), Ranak Media" (Svetlogorsk). As well as the majority of private and some corporate subscribers of the Internet provider “Business Network” (Minsk)
Currently, velcom provides Internet access services using GPON, Ethernet, ADSL standards in all regional centers of Belarus, as well as in Bobruisk, Dobrush, Rechitsa, Svetlogorsk.
As of December 31, 2018, the subscriber base of the fixed-line network from velcom was about 452 thousand users. Most of the operator’s Internet tariffs are comprehensive, that is, they imply simultaneous receipt and services digital television under the VOKA brand.
Data center and ICT services
In September 2017, in Minsk, velcom launched one of the largest data processing centers (DPCs) in Belarus. The data center occupies an area of 7.5 thousand square meters. m. Construction of the data center took more than 2 years and cost $20 million.
The velcom data center has an international certificate from the Uptime Institute (UI) for Tier III fault tolerance level in the Design and Facility categories. Four data center modules are designed for 800 server racks and have their own optical ring - 43 kilometers of network with throughput 1 Tbit/sec. To date, the first module for 200 server racks has been put into operation.
Currently, the data center provides the following services: hosting server and network equipment(Colocation), rental of virtual resources for building IT infrastructure (IaaS based on the VMware platform), backup and data recovery (Baas based on Veeam Backup and Restore products), provision of server and network equipment for rent (HaaS service), cloud storage based on Veeam Cloud Connect, virtual infrastructure voblaka based on Exoscale technology, as well as the use software products Microsoft Subscription and Premium technical support and Oracle database maintenance.
In March 2019, the range of services provided expanded with security services. The velcom data center was certified by the Operational Analytical Center under the President of the Republic of Belarus and launched the Cloud-62 service, intended for legal entities working with confidential information with a high degree of security.
Solar power plant
velcom cinema
In August 2017, the velcom cinema multiplex opened in partnership with the Silver Screen cinema chain. The cinema includes seven high-tech cinema halls.
Since 2018, on the basis of velcom cinema, a project has been launched to show arthouse films velcom Silver ART.
Statistics
As of December 31, 2018, the company’s mobile communications services were used by more than 4.87 million subscribers. Fixed Internet and TV services were used by 452 thousand users. The company's share in the mobile communications market was 42%.
Mobile communications 2G covers 97.7% of the country's territory, where 99.9% of the population lives (100% of urban residents). 3G is available in 97.1% of the country. As of March 2010, 3,276 people worked on the velcom network base stations and 28,193 transceivers in 1,341 settlements of the country as of July 2009, as well as 8 switches: 3 in Minsk and one in each regional center.
The company's clients can use the international roaming service in 191 countries in the networks of 382 operators. The Velcom unitary enterprise has its own network of branded sales and service centers, consisting of 87 offices in 32 cities of Belarus and 10 centers for fixed-line communication clients. The dealer network includes more than 470 showrooms in 154 locations.
The company's revenue (according to international financial statements) in the fourth quarter of 2018 amounted to 241.4 million rubles, EBITDA (earnings before interest expenses, taxes and depreciation) - 89 million rubles.
For 2018, revenue amounted to 936.4 million rubles, EBITDA - 394 million rubles.
| Year | Revenue, million euros | EBITDA, million euros | EBITDA Margin | Operating income, million euros | Capex |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 260,9 | 106,6 | 40,9 % | -255,2 | 44,9 |
| 2012 | 301,2 | 124,4 | 41,3 % | 29,5 | 43,7 |
| 2013 | 331,7 | 155,9 | 47,0 % | 71,6 | 34,0 |
| 2014 | 355,0 | 172,4 | 48,6 % | 82,2 | 48,5 |
| 2015 | 332,2 | 163,7 | 49,3 % | 86,6 | 66,1 |
| 2016 | 321,0 | 151,5 | 47,2 % | 87,8 | 73,7 |
| 2017 | 390,5 | 181,3 | 46,4 % | 123,1 | 47,1 |
| 2018 | 389,3 | 163,8 | 42,1 % | 87,6 | 49,7 |
Notes
- Interim Results - A1 Telekom Austria Group (English)
- BELNETMON - Net Monitor in Belarus - Number of subscribers in Belarus
- Nine BS and one person in the call center. How GSM communications began in Belarus 20 years ago (Russian). www.onliner.by. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
- VELCOM: EDGE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE IN THREE REGIONS OF BELARUS (Russian)
- velcom becomes a full-fledged 3G operator (undefined) (unavailable link). Retrieved April 5, 2010. Archived March 1, 2011.
- IP "MCS" changed its official name to IP "Velcom" and modernized the brand Archived copy dated May 19, 2008 on the Wayback Machine
- On the suspension of the provision of the “High-Speed Mobile Internet” service in some regional and district centers (Russian). www.velcom.by. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- velcom - velcom launched the country's first network for the “Internet of Things” (Russian). www.velcom.by. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
- velcom launched Wi-Fi calls for its subscribers (Russian). www.velcom.by. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- A 4G network has become available to subscribers of the telecom operator velcom (Russian). www.velcom.by. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
- Dzyadko T. The first private operator // Vedomosti, No. 157 (1931), August 23, 2007
- “Charter’97”, “Velcom was really sold”, August 22, 2007 Archived copy dated September 30, 2007 on the Wayback Machine
- 50, 150,450 minutes to all networks
- 500 minutes within the velcom network
- 250 minutes in velcom 3G network
- 300 minutes to other networks
- USSD *118# call;
- velcom public account in Viber;
What is the price?
| Packages | Cost, rub./30 days |
| 500 minutes within the velcom network | 3.7 rub. |
| 50 minutes to all networks | RUB 2.19* / RUB 2.88 |
| 150 minutes to all networks | 5.18 rub.*/ 6.81 rub. |
| 450 minutes to all networks | 12.12 rub.*/ 16.97 rub. |
| 250 minutes in velcom 3G network | 3.06 rub. |
| Packages | Cost, rub./month |
| 300 minutes to other networks** | 5 rub. |
| Unlimited to all networks*** | 6.90 rub. |
Packages of minutes are an opportunity to additionally use corporate tariff plans to communicate with clients and partners:
- 50, 150,450 minutes of calls to all networks
- 500 minutes within the velcom network
- 250 minutes in velcom 3G network
- 300 minutes to other networks
Who can use it?
Packages of minutes are provided to subscribers of legal entities and individuals - subscribers of an individual corporate program, except for users of tariff plans for the Internet, telemetry and tariff plans of the PRIVET line.
Peculiarities:
| Package name | Submission period | Included traffic | Peculiarities |
| “500 minutes within the velcom network” | 30 days | 500 minutes within the velcom network | Not available on Smart Infinite tariff plans or Comfort line tariff plans. If the subscriber’s tariff plan includes voice traffic, then the included traffic of the package is consumed first, then minutes according to the tariff plan. |
| "50 minutes to all networks" | 50 minutes to all networks | A subscriber can connect and use only one package at a time. If the subscriber's tariff plan includes voice traffic, then it is consumed first, then the package traffic. |
|
| “150 minutes to all networks” | 150 minutes to all networks | ||
| “450 minutes to all networks” | 450 minutes to all networks | ||
| “250 minutes on velcom 3G network” | 250 minutes within the network from the velcom 3G network. | Not available on tariff plans of the Comfort line, and on the tariff plans Semi-Annual Subscription, Light+, Smart Infinite, Corporate unlim 3G. If the subscriber's tariff plan includes voice traffic, then first of all, when making a call from the 3G network, the included traffic of the “250 minutes in the velcom 3G network” package is consumed, and from the 2G network – minutes according to the tariff plan. |
|
| “300 minutes to other networks” | calendar month | 300 minutes to other networks | is available only on tariff plans of the “Business Plan” line. If the subscriber's tariff plan includes voice traffic, then the package traffic is consumed first, and then the included traffic. |
| "Unlimited to all networks" | calendar month | ∞ minutes to all networks | not available on Internet, telemetry and Comfort XL tariff plans |
You can connect/disable services in the following ways:
- USSD *118# call;
- based on the client’s application sent by e-mail or through the velcom public account in Viber;
- in velcom branded centers and salons of the company's official attorneys.
You can find out about connected packages using the USSD request *141*2# call. You can find out the balance of unused minutes using the USSD request *100*1# call.
The period for providing the package is 30 days (except for the “300 minutes to other networks” package). Packages are automatically renewed for the next term.
You can find out about connected packages using the USSD request *141*2# call. You can find out the balance of unused minutes using the USSD request *100*1# call.
How is package traffic spent when voice traffic is included in tariff plans?
- Minutes included in packages are not used for calls between employees legal entity(within a closed subscriber group), as well as when calling “favorite” numbers.
- 50, 150, 450 minutes to all networks are consumed after the minutes included in the tariff plan. You can connect and use only one of the packages of minutes at a time.
- 500 minutes within the velcom network are consumed before the minutes included in the tariff plan.
- 250 minutes in the velcom 3G network are consumed first in the velcom 3G network; when making calls from the 2G network, minutes according to the tariff plan are consumed.
- 300 minutes to other networks are consumed before the minutes included in the tariff plan.
What is the price?
*for the “Social”, “At Your Rhythm” tariff plans, as well as the “Business”, “Corporate Smart”, “Employee”, “Big Plans”, “Smart”, “Comfort” tariff plans. The package of minutes is provided for 30 days and is automatically extended for the next period. The cost of the service is written off in full upon activation/change of package and subsequently every 30 days.
**for tariff plans of the “Business Plan” line. The cost of the package is written off daily in equal installments.
***For tariff plans of the Comfort line, TP Starter, Comfort S, Comfort M, Comfort L, lemon, Corporate unlim 3G, Semi-annual subscription, Light, For communication S, For communication M, For communication L. The cost of the package is written off in full upon connection and the 1st of every month.
The procedure for providing the service ""
Review
