KIEV, Dec. 25 ??“ National telecoms operator Ukrtelekom is to raise $200 million in the first quarter of 2007 for the construction of a 3G (UMTS/WCDMA) network, Ukrtelecom CEO Heorgiy Dzekon said in an interview with Biznes weekly, published on Monday.

"The construction of the [UMTS] network is under way at full speed. This is a top priority task for Ukrtelecom now. As for raising funds, we have not borrowed them yet because we had enough own assets. Yet, next year we'll certainly raise funds. In the first quarter of 2007, we'll be looking for a $200 million loan," he said.