Azercell releases FY 2016 results

Company continued its successful operation last year  

Azercell Telecom LLC was one of the companies that made great contribution to the national economy of Azerbaijan during 20 years of its operation. Preserving its leadership in a range of areas, the mobile operator made progress in major indicators in the past year, as well. It is detailed in the report of Azercell Telecom LLC as of 2016.

Currently, Azercell Telecom LLC is a mobile telecom market leader of the country with 48% of market share. Azercell’s network covers 99,8% of population and 80% of the territories of the Republic (except 20% occupied land area). 4,5 million people give preference to the services provided by Azercell.   

Azercell is the largest taxpayer and investor in non-oil sector of the country. The company made different type of payments to the state budget of 175,1 million manats in 2016 and 1 458,2 million manats during 20 years of its operation. Last year the specific weight of Azercell’s payments was 2,3% in overall state budget and 2,9% in public revenues from non-oil sector. Azercell invested USD 31,016 million in the development of telecommunication sector in 2016. Total investments of the company in this field over past 20 years made USD 1 443 million. Azercell invested in further development of human resources in the amount of USD 659 430.21 in 2016 and USD 22 434 173.21 over 20 years. Company’s investment on social projects amounted USD 255 683.84 and USD 18 722 027.66 over 20 years of its operation.

For subscribers of the company last year passed under the slogan "Every moment of life shared with the speed of Azercell 4G is beautiful!". Within one year we strengthened Azercell 4G network by 84%, in order to make high-speed Internet affordable we made 27% discount on mobile internet tariffs. Most modern mobile devices supporting 4G have been presented for an exclusively favorable terms for Azercell subscribers. We became the only official presenters of IPhone smartphones in Azerbaijan.

The company made a number of achievements in 2016 as before. It conducted various campaigns offering the subscribers 3G, 4G MiFi devices, free call minutes, free internet and modern smartphones at attractive rates and applied discounts on tariff packs. The list of countries where subscribers can enjoy roaming at single discounted rate was extended. One of the most memorable events of Azercell was the launch of new beneficial offers for its customers as an official distributor of iPhone smartphones in Azerbaijan.

To provide more comfortable and easy services for its clients, in 2016 Azercell increased the number of Nordic-style Flagship stores operating with a new concept: one of them was presented in the renovated first customer service center at Z. Taghiyev Street and the second one started operating as a new office at Ganjlik Mall.

Azercell enjoys serving its subscribers at the largest customer service network in the country consisting of 63 Front Offices and Azercell Express offices, as well as at the largest sales network with 393 official sales points.

Last year was very successful for Azercell in terms of different awards and public appreciation, as well. Company’s CEO Vahid Mursaliyev was chosen “The CEO of the Year” by an esteemed international magazine “The Business Year”. He was also awarded with the honorary title of academician of Global Communications Academy operating in the auspices of United Nations Organization (UN). Mr. Mursaliyev also received an honorary diploma of National Paralympic Committee for his contributions to the development of Paralympic movement in the country.

Azercell Telecom received prestigious International Business Award Stevie in 3 nominations. Thus, the company was awarded with bronze in “The Telecommunications Company of the Year” and “The Corporate Communications Department of the Year” nominations. At the same time, Sumax, the company established and operating under Barama Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center of Azercell, received a silver award in “The startup of the Year” nomination. Moreover, Azercell was ranked among top 3 employers in Azerbaijan as a result of the independent research covering the CIS countries and Eastern Europe.

Serving 4,5 million subscribers, Azercell stood out for its distinguished social activity. According to the study conducted by Socialbakers, the company demonstrated 100% response rate to customer enquiries on its official Facebook page and 79% on Twitter page.

Azercell further improved its quality system in 2016 and applied the terms of two more international standards in the workplace. As a result, the company was certified with the international standard in Environmental Management System ISO 14001:2015 and Occupational Health & Safety OHSAS 18001.

Azercell Telecom attaches as much importance to Corporate Social Responsibility as it does to its core business activity. The company is trying to modernize and facilitate the lives of Azerbaijani people by means of high speed internet and advanced technologies. Along with this, Azercell also cares about online protection and cyber security of its subscribers. On 1 June 2016 the company started cooperation with Kaspersky Lab in the field of cyber security and drew public attention to online protection of children and adults. 3 new products - Universal Security, Kaspersky Internet Security for Android and Parental control - designed to ensure Internet security were launched under the project.       

To promote reading culture among children, 5490 books for children with the literary work of Swedish author Astrid Lindgren were translated into Azerbaijani, published with original illustrations and donated to the libraries of 610 refugee schools. Also, the State Theater of Young Spectators staged the premiere of “Pippi Longstocking” before the audience of internally displaced children.         

Azercell’s Mobile Eye and Mobile Dental clinics visited different regions of the country and provided free medical treatment for 2.000 people in 2016, and more than 6.000 children deprived of parental care, elderly people and low-income families since 2010 till nowadays. Baku and Gandja Regional Children Hotline service established and functioning with the support of Azercell Telecom LLC received about 3.700 appeals in 2016. Within 2010-2016 the number received calls exceeded to more than 18.000. By the end of the last year Children Hotline Service Mobile Application for Android was presented by the initiative and support of Azercell.

Mobile Eye and Mobile Dental Clinics of Azercell Telecom LLC continued to provide services for deprived children, elderly and low-income families, refugees and IDPs, and examined and treated thousands of patients in 2016. Azerbaijan Children Hotline supported by the company also continued its activity and launched mobile application for Android devices last year. Azercell won "Leave no child out" award jointly established by youth organization "Reliable Future" and the “NGO Alliance for Children's Rights”. The company was previously granted with this award in 2006, 2007 and 2009, as well. In addition, Azercell was the key mobile communication provider of “Solidarity camp”, a country-wide social project organized by ASAN Volunteers in Lahij settlement.     

National Children’s Paralympic Committee organized 2^nd Children’s Paralympics Games for young athletes with the support by Azercell provided since 2014.  

The company continued to inspire the youth of the country with its activities in the field of education. The ongoing Summer Internship Program granted 28 students from different Universities of the country with the title of Azercell scholar in 2016. Great events such as Oracle conference, “Big Data Day Baku” and “Barama HackDay 2016” were held for the first time in the country with the organizational support of Azercell. Seminars for teachers and startups, English language courses with participation of 100 journalists continued to be held in 2016.

As a leading mobile operator of the country, Azercell will continue to provide its customers with high quality services in 2017, as well.  In order to bring the world closer on the customer’s terms the company aims to make high speed internet affordable for everyone, provide its subscribers with the best customer experience and introduce innovative technologies to the country.