ARMENIAN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENTS LAUNCH WIMAX NETWORK IN YEREVAN
PanARMENIAN.Net
21.10.2008 16:10 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ COMSTAR – United TeleSystems JSC ("Comstar" or
"the Group") (LSE: CMST), the largest integrated telecommunications
provider in Moscow and 67 Russian cities, announced that it has
launched a wireless broadband network based on the 802.16e standard
WiMAX technology in Armenia and introduced the Comstar brand in the
local market.
President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia and Dmitry Medvedev participated
in the opening ceremony today, Comstar’s press office told
PanARMENIAN.Net.
The creation and commercial launch of the wireless network using the
3.6-3.8 GHz frequency range was implemented by Cornet-AM, an Internet
service provider in Armenia, and a part of Comstar Group. The WiMAX
network, which currently comprises 24 base stations, covers the
capital of Armenia, Yerevan, as well as 18 Armenian cities. Airspan
Networks (US) was chosen by Comstar as a provider of equipment for the
WiMAX network. Base stations are connected via proprietary and rented
fiber-optic lines, as well as through radio relay channels, with the
backbone based on Cisco’s equipment. The Group intends to expand the
coverage zone and the backbone in the future. The total investments
in the project amount to US$ 4.6 million in 2007-2008. The volume of
further investments in the project will depend on the results of the
launch and overall development of the telecommunications market.
Comstar’s WiMAX network in Armenia is used to provide a broad
range of telecommunications services, including digital telephony,
broadband internet access, data transmission, conferencing and virtual
private networks (VPN) for corporate subscribers. Cornet-AM currently
provides services to corporate subscribers, and Comstar intends to
start servicing residential subscribers and offer voice services
in the future. Earlier this year, Cornet-AM applied to the Public
Service Regulation Committee of the Republic of Armenia to obtain
numbering capacity of 60 thousand telephone numbers. In addition,
Cornet-AM has the license to provide inter-city and international
connection services for its residential subscribers. Upon the receipt
of the requested numbering capacity, Comstar will be able to provide
the fixed-line local and long distance telecommunications services
in a package with allocated telephone numbers.
Sergey Pridantsev, President and Chief Executive Officer of Comstar
UTS, commented: "The national WiMAX network is a unique project for
Armenia, and one of the first projects of its kind worldwide. The
network deployment enables us to offer modern communications
services in the country and helps to improve the life quality of
its population. Some of the citizens will be offered telephony
services and broadband internet access at their homes for the first
time ever. The launch of this project enables us to truly become a
national telecommunications operator in Armenia."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
