CORENT AM COMPANY ENVISAGES TO PROVIDE SERVICES WITH USE OF MiMAX TECHNOLOGY ALL OVER ARMENIA STARTING FROM 2008

Noyan Tapan
Feb 08 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. It is envisaged that by late 2008
Cornet AM provider company owned by the Russian-British company
Callnet will be able to provide broadband wireless Internet services
all over Armenia. Director General of Cornet CJSC Boris Demirkhanian
said this during a talk with NT correspondent. According to him,
Armenia is the first post-Soviet country to introduce and operate a
network with the use of WiMAX technology. He noted that Cornet AM
started the pilot program on formation of a WiMAX network in June
2006 when the first base station was installed in Yerevan, which
actually created the opportunity to ensure wireless Internet access
in Yerevan. In the words of B. Demirkhanian, Cornet AM currently
provides this service to 70 users.

The reason for such a small number of users is that the cost price of
connecting to the network makes about 1,000 USD. The user’s terminal
device makes up large part of this sum. The director general said that
the current number of users has been ensured thanks to crediting 60%
of the connection cost.

However, B. Demirkhanian hopes that further investments of Cornet
will contribute to an increase in the number of users. "In 2007, it
is envisaged to install 10 base broadcasting stations in Yerevan,
which will allow to secure user connection with cheaper equipment
without any negatice impact on quality."

According to forecasts of Cornet AM’s director general, the WiMAX
access connection price is expected not to exceed 100 thousand drams
in 2008, which will result in a decline of connection devices’ prices,
while the number of users will grow up to 10 thousand. He explained
such expectations by the current number of 100 thousand Internet users
in Armenia, some of whom, in case of improving Internet access thanks
to WiMAX, will prefer this service.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress