Second GSM network launched in breakaway republic

A-Mobile, a Russian-Abkhazian joint venture, has become the second GSM operator in the Georgian breakaway republic of Abkhazia, in the north-west of the country. All cities in the region are covered, including its capital, the Black Sea port of Sokhumi, and A-Mobile, which was licensed by the Abkhazian government in August 2005, has signed up 400 subscribers so far. It operates alongside the only other GSM provider in the region, Aquafon, which presently has around 30,000 users.