Vivacom
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | 1992 (as Bulgarian Telecommunications Company) |
| Headquarters | Sofia , Bulgaria |
Area served | Bulgaria |
Key people | Nikolay Andreev (CEO), Nikolay Gavrilov (CTO), Stoyan Karanlakov (CCO), Asen Velikov (CFO) |
| Products | Mobile communications, fixed voice lines, fixed broadband, pay-TV (DTH and IPTV) |
Number of employees | 5900 |
| Parent | United Group Bulgaria EOOD |
Vivacom () stands as Bulgaria's foremost telecommunications provider in terms of both revenue and market share, having previously been state-owned. The company is based in Sofia and employs roughly 5,900 staff members. Its well-established distribution system includes close to 230 branded retail locations alongside various alternative sales channels.
As a fully integrated telecom operator, Vivacom delivers a comprehensive portfolio of services nationwide, encompassing mobile communications, fixed voice lines, fixed broadband connections, and pay-TV offerings (both DTH and IPTV) to residential and corporate clients. Its fixed-line infrastructure relies on a combination of copper and fiber optic networks, while its mobile services operate using GSM/GPRS/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA+/LTE technologies.
History
The origins of BTC trace back to Bulgaria's original fixed-line telecommunications operator. Following World War II, telecom services were overseen by different ministries until 1981 when the postal and telecommunications sectors were consolidated into the state-run Bulgarian Post and Telecommunications entity. In 1992, after the fall of the communist government, this organization was divided into two separate entities: the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company (BTC) and Bulgarian Posts. Regulatory responsibilities were assigned to the newly formed Committee for Communications Regulation.
BTC moved from government ownership towards privatization in 2004 when the state divested 65% of its shares. In May 2005, BTC was granted a license to build UMTS-based third-generation mobile networks and subsequently launched its mobile operations under the "Vivatel" brand in November that year. Vivatel rapidly emerged as Bulgaria’s fastest expanding mobile network operator.
By January 2009, BTC merged with its subsidiary BTC Mobile (Vivatel), and by September 2009, both entities consolidated under the Vivacom brand, providing Bulgaria’s most extensive range of telecommunications services.
In late 2012, a consortium led by VTB Capital together with local partner Tzvetan Vassilev acquired majority control of BTC via Viva Telecom Bulgaria EAD, securing a 93.99% stake following regulatory clearance. This transaction was considered among the most intricate deals in Bulgaria’s business history.
In 2015, Belgian investor Pierre Louvrier sought to purchase Vivacom through his Luxembourg-based holding company LIC33 for nearly €900 million; however, he withdrew from the acquisition after uncovering financial irregularities during due diligence.
On 7 November 2019, United Group—a prominent telecom and media operator across South-Eastern Europe—announced an agreement to acquire Viva Telecom Bulgaria. The deal was finalized on 31 July 2020, with United Group Bulgaria EOOD assuming ownership.
As of 30 September 2022, after operating for three decades under the BTC name, the company officially rebranded from Bulgarian Telecommunication Company EAD to Vivacom Bulgaria EAD.
Mobile service
By December 31, 2019, Vivacom ranked as Bulgaria’s third largest mobile operator based on subscriber numbers and held roughly a 30% share of the country’s mobile service revenue market for that year.
At the close of 2019, coverage provided by Vivacom’s mobile network included:
- 2G (GSM/GPRS/EDGE) - covering 99.99% of the population
- 3G (UMTS/HSPA+) - reaching 99.98%
- 4G (LTE) - available to 99.94%
- 5G network - In September 2020, Vivacom launched Bulgaria’s first nationwide 5G network spanning all 27 district centers.
Fixed-line services
Vivacom holds a commanding position in the fixed voice sector, capturing 81% of the revenue share as of mid-2019. It also leads the fixed broadband market, controlling 27% of subscribers by the end of 2019. Furthermore, Vivacom stands as Bulgaria's third-largest pay-TV provider and is recognized as the foremost IPTV operator in the country.
Television services
On March 1, 2012, Vivacom introduced its own TV channel, Vivacom Arena. This channel is accessible through the company’s satellite and IPTV platforms as part of a subscription package. Its programming includes movies and initially offered live coverage of ATP World Tour 250 tennis events.
Supervisory board
- Stan Miller - Member
- Libor Vončina - Member
- Nikos Stathopoulos - Member
- Stelios Elia - Member
Management board
- Nikolay Andreev - Chief Executive Officer
- Nikolay Gavrilov - Chief Technical Officer
- Stoyan Karanlakov - Chief Commercial Officer
- Asen Velikov - Chief Financial Officer