Armenian Operator Blames Georgia For Internet Failure

ARMENIAN OPERATOR BLAMES GEORGIA FOR INTERNET FAILURE

Regnum, Moscow
9 Aug 06

9 August: To all appearances, Georgia has simply switched off the
connection and Armenia has again found itself without access to
the internet. "The connection has simply been switched off on the
Georgian side and at this moment it is impossible to understand the
reason for that; work is under way," Asmik Chutilyan, press secretary
of the national operator, ArmenTel, said in an interview with Regnum
on 9 August.

ArmenTel has the exclusive right to maintain the international
telecommunications link to Armenia. The data is transferred through
one cable which goes from Armenia to Ukraine, via Georgia and then
the sea bed of the Black sea. On the south of Armenia the cable is
connected to the similar infrastructure of Iran.

Earlier, on 8 August, Chutilyan said that the internet connection in
Armenia has been completely restored owing to "satellite connection
and reserve sources" after the cable was damaged on the Black Sea
bed. She also said that the cable is being repaired and the work will
be over within 10 days.

[Passage omitted: Earlier cases when the connection was cut]