World Markets Research Centre
Global Insight
November 20, 2009

Armentel Announces Launch of ADSL 2+ Technology

BYLINE: Michael Lacquiere

Armenia’s dominant fixed-line operator Armentel has announced that it
has launched ADSL 2+ technology, reports ARKA, citing company General
Director Igor Klimko. The upgraded network will now offer download
speeds of up to 24 Mbps, double the previous speed. The precise cost
of the upgrade has not been disclosed.

Significance:Armentel has previously indicated that it within five
years it plans to switch to fibre-optic communication throughout the
country, a move which ought to offer faster download speeds than
copper-based DSL services, bolstering its Internet offering. However,
DSL-based services evidently remain on the agenda, with the operator
looking to upgrade its legacy infrastructure. In common with many of
the surrounding CIS countries, the Internet market in Armenia is not
particularly well developed, and former monopolist Armentel remains
the market-leader, although there is some competition in the sector.
It is indicative of the state of the market that dial-up remains the
primary internet technology.