PROBLEM OF HIGH PRICES FOR COMMUNICATION STILL ACTUAL IN ARMENIA

AZG Armenian Daily
31/08/2007

The issue of modern communication systems in Armenia was the subject of
a discussion at the Armenian Center of Strategic and National Research,
August 29.

The most of the invitees did not esteem either the discussion of
the Research Center or the problem of communications itself and were
absent. One of the most important figures of the event, head of the
Communications Department of the Armenian Ministry for Transportation
and Communication Gevorg Baloyan, left as soon as he arrived, because
of an "extraordinarily important phone call". He was to represent the
communications system of the Republic of Armenia, the official policy
of the Government and the prospects of development of the sphere.

After a reference to the "good old" Soviet times, a more interesting
but still vague research on communication fees in Armenia was made. The
research contained an extensive comparison of communication fees
in Armenia with those in Georgia, Azerbaijan, Russia and the United
States.

In any case, certain conclusions in the research are worth
attention. Thus, only in Armenia there is difference between subscriber
fees for physical and juridical persons. In fixed telephone network
per minute fee is not charged in Azerbaijan and Georgia, and in Russia
and USA per minute fee is at least three times less than in Armenia.

In Armenia a physical person spends is 19,5% of his/her $197
average monthly salary on fixed phone communication fee payments,
in Azerbaijan – 8,9% of $196, in Georgia – 22% of $115, in Moscow,
Russia, 4% of $500, and in USA – 0,7% of $3120.

Economy science doctor Tatoul Manaserian stated during the discussion
that Armenia is also vulnerable in sense of information security. He
said that although the Government has proclaimed the communication
sphere a priority of national development, it does nothing to
insure that priority. In the meanwhile in Armenia’s neighbor states
communication sphere is seriously attended and assisted by the
Government.

Mr. Manaserian noted that the networks of both the Government and the
National Assembly of Armenia are not protected and information loss
can easily occur, threatening the national security of the country.

The last accent of the discussion was made on the present state
and development of Internet communication in Armenia. The issue was
represented by director of the Arminco company Andranik Alexanian.

Complaining of the low-quality services of "the Greek ArmenTel",
he said that this circumstance hampered development of Internet
communications in Armenia for about ten years. Nevertheless Internet
developed in Armenia due the efforts of certain wise people, yet
everything could be much better if there weren’t the high prices and
low quality of ArmenTel. Mr. Alexanian added that only a year or two
ago internet communication fees in Armenia were among the highest in
the world.

According to the Arminco director, Armenia has about 5000 specialists
in that sphere, which shift from company from company and new
specialists are few.

Therefore he emphasized the question of having skilled IT teachers
in schools and so providing competition.

"Otherwise, normal specialists will leave Armenia, as they do now,"
he concluded.