Ucom

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Ucom

Industry	Telecommunications
Founded	2009 (2009)
Headquarters	Yerevan, Armenia
Area served	Armenia
Services	Fixed Line, Mobile Telephony, Cable television, and Broadband
Owner	Ucom
Website	www.ucom.am

Ucom is a mobile network operator and internet service provider based in Armenia.^[1] It is managed by , a holding company operating in Armenia.^[2]

History[]

Ucom was founded in 2009.^[3] The goal of the company was to provide customers with access to innovative technological solutions in its field. Ucom was the first telecommunications company in Armenia to introduce the "fiber-optics to the home" solution, which provides high-quality television (IPTV), high-speed Internet connection and digital telephone services.^{[citation needed]} Ucom provides its Internet services through its own fiber-optic channel connecting Armenia with Georgia. This allows the company to provide transit internet to the Middle East.^{[citation needed]}

In 2013, the company received a license to provide public mobile internet services, and in 2015 acquired a 100% stake in Orange Armenia, thus entering the Armenian mobile market.^[4] Following this, the company launched the 4G+ network in Armenia, which acted as a supplement to the company's combined services, providing customers with the complete "4 in 1" package of IPTV, fixed and mobile phone services, and internet service.

In 2017, during the Customer Advisory Board meeting that took place in San Francisco at the initiative of Calix, Ucom and Calix announced the introduction of NG-PON2 (New Generation Passive Optical Network) technology in Armenia, which would enable Ucom to upgrade the bandwidth speed from 1 gigabit/sec in its fixed network to 10 gigabits/sec through this state-of-the-art infrastructure. With the construction of the NG-PON2 network, it was possible to provide higher quality services, speed, security and new services.^[5]

In April 2017, Ucom and FORA-BANK Joint-Stock Commercial Bank (part of Tashir Group) signed a partnership agreement for projects including the full range of telecommunications services, covering the entire territory of Armenia as well as its most remote regions. The implementation of the investment program defined by the agreement allowed expanding 4Play offers and 4G+ network in the country. Future plans include expansion of operations, especially in Russia, which would allow Ucom to become a leading pan-Armenian telecommunications operator.^[6]

Ucom has also been active in the field of corporate social responsibility, implementing a number of programs aimed at the development of children, particularly in the sphere of education. With the support of the company, computer engineering laboratories were opened in some Armenian schools, promoting the development of the ICT sector. The company also supports vulnerable groups in society by continuing to implement the "Let's Keep Children in Families" SMS charity project, which provides families with resources that allow parents to create a stable source of income and release their children from the care of state institutions.^[7] The company also implements the "Bringing Sight to Armenian Eyes" program,^[8] within the framework of which quality ophthalmological services are provided to the regional residents of Armenia free of charge.

Labour strike[]

On April 9, 2020, a publication with the title "BREAKING. Ucom management staff resign"^[9] appeared in the press and quickly spread throughout the Armenian network. According to the publication, the entire management of Ucom as well as the entire technical staff (around five dozen) had resigned.

Cause of controversy[]

According to several media reports, the controversy was caused by a confrontation between Ucom shareholder and at the time CEO Hayk Yesayan and the other shareholders. The other shareholders were the two sons of Gagik Khachatryan (former chairman of the RA Ministry of Finance), Gurgen Khachatryan (the chairman of the Board of Directors of Ucom), Artyom Khachatryan and Samvel Karapetyan.^[10] Mikayel Minasyan, the son-in-law of the third President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, was allegedly considered a shareholder too.^[11]

According to another report, the source of controversy was the disagreements between the senior staff and the majority shareholders who wanted to appoint Beeline CEO Andrey Pyatakhin at the helm of Ucom once the two companies merged.^[12] Beeline released an official statement claiming that Pyatakhin "[did] not intend to resign."

Regarding the contradictions, there is a variety of information from the press about Hayk Yesayan's issues with his employees as an inefficient director. Employees claim that the Yesayan brothers lived a lavish lifestyle at company's expense and had problems with the employees.^[13] One publication, citing the testimony of the staff, states that the Yesayan brothers were determined to take over Ucom.^[14]

Further developments[]

A Ucom store in Yerevan

Hayk and Alexander Yesayan announced that they have no intention to sell their share of the company and have intentions to purchase the other 94% of the company shares, for which they offered around USD 44 million.^[15] The Board of Directors did not respond to the offer.^[16] The press reported that a new CEO was appointed, which was not officially confirmed at the time. SCPEC President Gegham Gevorgyan announced that the recent developments at Ucom had nothing to do with SCPEC's examinations.

On April 13, 2020, the founding shareholders issued a statement declaring that:

"Ucom is and will always be an Armenian operator and, obviously, it hasn't been sold, exchanged or 'extradited' to any country for any 'deal'. The company has never considered and is not going to consider letting go of any of its employees. As for the shareholders, it's worth mentioning that since the day of its foundation, large funds and social capital have been invested for the development of Ucom, continuing to believe in the vision of the U-team. By the way, the shareholders have never received a dividend in 12 years."^[17]

The statement also confirmed that Ucom has a new CEO, whose identity was not revealed at the time of the publication.^[18]

Ucom Foundation[]

The Ucom Foundation was established in 2016 as the main implementing body of Ucom's philanthropic and humanitarian programs. The mission of the foundation is to help vulnerable social groups in Armenia and improve people's lives by: creating sources of stable income, reuniting families, supporting the formation of a stable and secure society, educating a healthy and developed generation, and creating opportunities for further development. The Ucom Foundation supports the implementation of charitable programs in the fields of health, education and culture.

Staff[]

Current[]

• Gurgen Khachatryan – Chairman of the Board of Directors^[19]
• Ara Khachatryan – Chief Executive Officer^[20]
• Tigran Safaryan – Marketing and Communication Director

Previous[]

• Hayk Yesayan – Chief Executive Officer
• Alexandr Yesayan – Deputy CEO, Head of Development
• Aram Barseghyan – Commercial Director
• Karen Shaboyan – Head of Sales

References[]