EIGHT IP TELEPHONY LICENCES ISSUED IN ARMENIA
by Michael Lacquiere

Global Insight
October 10, 2007

Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission (PCRC) has granted
IP telephony licences to six companies and two private entrepreneurs,
reports ARKA. Armenak and Srgsian, Artavazd and Boris, Cascade Telecom,
Zangtelecom, Innet and Leader Ground, along with private businessmen
Edward Grigorian and Hovhannes Kababian, have been granted the
licences. Before they are able to offer services they must apply to the
PCRC for IP telephony numbers, and then apply to fixed-line incumbent
Armentel for connection. Earlier this week, the country’s first three
IP telephony licences were awarded (see Armenia: 3 October 2007: ).

Significance:Following Armentel’s renunciation of its telecoms monopoly
in Armenia, on 1 October 2007, rivals have been queuing up to compete
in the IP telephony sector. Global Insight expects that further IP
telephony licences will be granted in the short term. It will be
interesting to see whether these competitors are granted connection
by Armentel without any further ado, given the disputes of earlier
this year, when Armentel refused to connect rivals, prompting protests
from some 200 operators (see Armenia: 30 January 2006:).