AZG Armenian Daily #049
19/03/2005

Telecommunication

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF KH-TELECOM TO GUARANTEE HIGH-QUALITY CONNECTION

No Promise Concerning Fees

Karabakh-Telecom, mobile phone operator that won the contest last year, is
already importing its equipments to Armenia. Ralf Yeriqian, executive
director of the company, answers our questions concerning the future
activities of KH-Telecom.

– What’s the connection between Karabakh-Telecom and KH-Telecom? People
think it’s the same company. Do the companies belong to one owner?

– The owner of the company operating in Nagorno Karabakh is Pier Fetush but
he is only a shareholder of KH-Telecom. The other shareholders are also
Lebanese.

– Are there Armenians among them?

– No

– Are you only the executive director?

– Yes. I am not the owner.

– What will be the company’s investment program in Armenia?

– We have an investment program. I will not go into details but can say that
we are ready to satisfy all demands.

– How many subscribers will your company have the most?

– The whole territory of Armenia will go under the company’s coverage
despite the fact if there is our subscriber in a given area or if there is a
settlement at all.

– Do you see it possible that ArmenTel subscribers will trade it with
KH-Telecom as soon as it starts operating?

– Everything is possible in a competitive market. It’s possible that they
will turn to us but the opposite is also likely.

– Are you going to promise better conditions to the consumers?

– What we can promise is the best modern service. Let’s wait a little till
we set out and you will see the results. Hopefully we can fulfill our
promise.

– Can your future subscribers expect a high-quality connection and available
fees?

– I should say yes to the high-quality connection. But concerning the fees I
can give neither a positive nor a negative answer. I cannot say anything
definite before our contract with ArmenTel is signed and we know the terms
of our agreement. But we guarantee a high-quality connection. The equipments
we transported lately are not all. They will keep on arriving.

– Do you mean there will be no difficulty with getting through from the
first try or with losing connection amid conversation?

– There will be no such problem. We imported the newest equipment from
Alcatel.

– There is an opinion that the Armenia’s political elite has a hand in
Karabakh-Telecom and KH-Telecom.

– I told you they are two separate companies. I told you also who the owners
of Karabakh-Telecom and KH-Telecom are. They are Lebanese. No Armenian
politician has a share in the company.

– Let’s return to KH-Telecom’s talks with ArmenTel. What’s the Transport and
Telecommunications Ministry’s stance in this issue?

– The Ministry is a regulator in this issue. We have turned to the Ministry
and are sure that it takes necessary steps to come out of this situation.

– So, do you consider realistic minister’s statement that the second
operator will start its activities from May?

– I hope so, or perhaps it will set out sooner.

By Ara Martirosian