ARMENIA’S PUBLIC SERVICES REGULATORY COMMISSION ISSUES IP-TELEPHONY LICENSES TO THREE COMPANIES

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 5 2007

YEREVAN, October 5. /ARKA/. The RA Public Services Regulatory
Commission has issued the first IP-telephony licenses to three Armenian
companies – Global Colline, Tarcom and Antatel. The companies received
licenses for long-distance voice communication.

Head of the Commission’s Legal Affairs Department Hamayak Amiragyan
said that, after receiving their licenses and telephone numbers, the
companies are to apply to the ArmenTel Company for the operation of
the telephone numbers.

"The telephone numbers are to be assigned within ten days, and their
operation depends on the efficiency of technical work at the company.

Any refusals must be substantiated," he said.

Amiragyan reported that Global Colline and Antatel were working on the
IP-telephony market before. As regards, Tarcom, it is only launching
its activities on this market.

On January 27, 2007, the ArmenTel telecommunication company stated its
intention to disconnect the companies rendering illegal IP-telephone
services. On January 25, the Armenian companies lodged a claim against
ArmenTel and the Public Services Regulatory Commission demanding that
ArmenTel impede their activities and the Commission partially revise
its decision on IP-telephony.

The companies also held actions of process and had their debts written
off in exchange for licensing.