ARMENIA’S POPULATION CAN MAKE USE OF INTERNET SERVICES OF NEW FIBER-OPTIC FEBERNET COMMUNICATIONS STARTING APRIL, 2007
Arminfo
2007-03-14 21:30:00
The Armenian FiberNet Communications has signed today a Contract
on cooperation with the biggest Netherlands Linxtelecom Company,
according to which the Armenian side will receive an alternative
Internet communication.
As the Director of FiberNet Communications Armen Khachatryan told
the journalists, the country’s population will be able to make use
of the Internet services of this fiber-optic network starting April,
2007. He noted that the Internet services, including the IPT and the
TV- services, will be if high quality with the rate of 100 milliseconds
and by 60% cheaper than the similar services of the former monopolist
of a fiber-optic network, the ArmenTel Company.
A. Khachatryan expressed confidence that the entry of the new Company
will create a field of healthy competition with ArmenTel.
A. Khachatryan also informed that the FiberNet will rent a part of
the fiber-optic railway cable, having been operated since 2003,
within the frames of the EU-financed TRASECA program. This cable
passes from the Georgian border through Ayrum, Alaverdi, Vanadzor,
Spitak, Gyumri, Armavir, Masis and Yerevan.
According to him, a fiber-optic network with length of 25 km has
already been laid and a fiber-optic main Ayrum-Yerevan is equipped
by means of the FiberNet. The total length of the Company’s network
today makes up 350 km. "The work on the network construction is still
underway", a. Khachatryan noted. He also informed that further it is
scheduled to render the audio services as well and to build a main
fiber-optic network Yerevan-Meghri that will allow to connect with
the Iranian fiber-optic main for data exchange.
In his turn, RA Minister of Transport and Communication Andranik
Manukyan noted that this is an important step that will allow
to enlarge the country’s investment field via a high-quality
communication. According to him, even in 2006, RA President Robert
Kocharyan had entrusted him with a task to provide the country with
high-quality and cheap Internet- communication.
In his congratulatory speech, RA Minister of Trade and Economic
Development Karen Chshmarityan noted that this is an important step
in the development of IT-Armenia that will allow to make the next
step towards the development of a new IT strategy. "The information
technologies is not a self-purpose but a way to enhance the economy’s
efficiency", he said.
To note, a fiber-optic cable was put into operation in 2003 by a
grant of 5 mln Euro given to Armenia by the European Union within
then frames of TRASECA. This cable is purposed to assure a safety in
the railway transport.
However, a high carrying capacity of the cable, that connects Ayrum
with the Poti Georgian port and then with Novorossiysk, had not been
used for a long time.