Max Telecom

Max Telecom

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Type	joint stock company
Industry	mobile telecommunications
Founded	2005
Headquarters	Sofia, Bulgaria
Key people	Neycho Velichkov, CEO Daniel Kupsin, Chairmen of board
Products	Internet services
Website	www.maxtelecom.bg

Max Telecom is a mobile telecommunications company and internet service provider (ISP) in Bulgaria. It was launched in October 2007 by Krasimir Stoychev, the founder of Bulgaria's first GSM operator MobilTel (in 1994), as Max Telecom. Max Telecom has license for operating the telecommunication services through a network of "point-to-multipoint" with national coverage, the service is also known as WiMAX. This type of network allows the building of high-speed and reliable connection. Also it gives opportunity to offer a wide range of fixed and mobile services, including Internet access, virtual private networks (VPN), voice services, video services and IPTV. The company is the first to launch commercial LTE network in Bulgaria. In May the company rebranded with new logo and began promoting itself simply as "Max".

The company was begun in 2005 after a WiMAX licence was secured. The company is thus Bulgaria's fourth mobile and first 4G network. As of September 2008, coverage included most of the country's larger cities.^[1] Telephone numbers in the network begin with the code 0999. [2]

In March 2014 the company announced that it has switched to LTE due to economic reasons and that it will be ready to launch its LTE Summer 2014 for the customers. In the conference it was also mentioned for the first time that Netflix will be available in Bulgaria again Summer the same year. This however, was never confirmed by any official from Netflix, but official page was created on 17 March 2014, confirming that the company plans to start its service soon. No specific date given. (Citation needed, will be providing it soon)

On May 21, 2014 in official press-conference Max Telecom unveiled brand new logo, and changed its name, dropping the Telecom and leaving the simple Max. It also announced the launch of the first LTE network in Bulgaria. Currently only 6 cities are covered, Sofia, Stara Zagora, Sliven, Bansko, Ruse and Pleven. The plan offered is 4G 4U, which gives customers up to 30 GB a month at full speed (where available) for very low price, paid once. The promotion ends on 30 June. The 30GB will be available to 30 September, when all current SIMs will be deactivated and new plans will be offered. Probably they will offer VoLTE by then.

Max Telecom is launching it's VoLTE service based on the popular open-source SIP-Server Kamailio. With this innovative approach, they will be one of the first mobile operators in the world, who will rely on open-source technology.

On July 28, 2015 Mtel and Max have signed a contract for national roaming. This is the first agreement for sharing networks in the Bulgarian telecom market.

Coverage

As of May 2014 WiMAX network has full coverage in the following cities: Sofia, Plovdiv, Pazardjik, Burgas, Varna, Sliven, Blagoevgrad, Veliko Turnovo, Asenovgrad, Dupnica, Pernik, Sandanski, Kyustendil, Petrich, Bankia, Nesebur, Kostinbrod, in the resorts Bansko, Pamporovo, Golden Sands, Sunny beach and the villages near Sofia – Vladaya, Bistrica, Dragalevci and Boyana. Since July' 2015, the newest towns to join the Max network include Kavarna, Balchik, Obzor, Sunny Beach, Nesebar, Pomorie, Chernomorets, Sozopol, Primorsko, Lozenetz, Ahtopol and Tzarevo. Along with its existing network in “Golden Sands”, “St. Konstantin and Elena” and last year’s Varna and Burgas, Max now offers 4G LTE in the most visited seaside resorts on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. In addition, Elin Pelin and Bojurishte, located near Sofia, also become part of Max’ coverage.

City	WiMax	LTE
Ahtopol	Yes	Yes
Asenovgrad	Yes	No
Bankia	Yes	Yes
Bansko	Yes	Yes
Bistritsa	Yes	Yes
Boyana	Yes	Yes
Botevgrad	Yes	No
Blagoevgrad	Yes	Yes
Burgas	Yes	Yes
Chernomorets	Yes	Yes
Chirpan	Yes	No
Dobrich	Yes	No
Dimitrovgrad	Yes	No
Dupnica	Yes	No
Dragalevci	Yes	Yes
Draganovtsi	Yes	Yes
Golden Sands	Yes	Yes
Haskovo	Yes	No
Kardjali	Yes	No
Kyustendil	Yes	No
Kostinbrod	Yes	Yes
Kozloduy	Yes	No
Lovech	Yes	No
Lozenets	Yes	No
Obzor	Yes	Yes
Nesebar	Yes	Yes
Pazardjik	Yes	No
Petrich	Yes	No
Pernik	Yes	Yes
Pleven	Yes	Yes
Plovdiv	Yes	Yes
Pomorie	Yes	Yes
Primorsko	Yes	Yes
Razgrad	Yes	No
Russe	No	Yes
Samokov	Yes	No
Sandanski	Yes	No
Sevlievo	Yes	No
Sofia	Yes	Yes
Shumen	Yes	No
Sliven	Yes	Yes
Stara Zagora	Yes	Yes
Sunny Beach	Yes	Yes
Svilengrad	Yes	No
Targovishte	Yes	No
Varna	Yes	Yes
Veliko Turnovo	Yes	No
Velingrad	Yes	Yes
Vidin	Yes	No
Vladaya	Yes	No
Vratsa	Yes	No
Yambol	Yes	No