HAMADOUN TOURE: ARMENIA REACHED 100% COVERAGE OF ITS TERRITORY BY MOBILE COMMUNICATION

ArmInfo
2010-04-07 13:42:00

ArmInfo. At late 2009, Armenia reached 100% coverage of its territory
by mobile communication, and it takes the third place in CIS region
after Russia ad Ukraine by coverage ad growth rates, Secretary-General
of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Dr. Hamadoun Toure
said in Yerevan on Wednesday during the roundtable on communication
and telecommunications.

He said he is very glad to the high rates of growth of the mobile
communication market in Armenia (the number of mobile subscribers in
Armenia currently makes up about 3 mln under 3,2 mln of population).

He added that the number of the mobile communication users in the
world will reach 5 bln in 2010. According to him, Armenia should pay
much attention to development of a wide-band Internet and make it more
available for the population. H. Toure also emphasized the importance
of developing digital technologies. He said it is scheduled to switch
the whole world to the digital television and radio broadcasting in
2015 and Armenia should not be in arrears of these processes.

In his turn, Transport and Communication Minister of Armenia
Manuk Vardanyan emphasized the importance of communication and
telecommunications for the country’s social and economic development.

According to him, the number of Internet users in Armenia in 2009
grew to 1,2 mln against 200,000 in 2008, and the number of mobile
communication users makes up about 3 mln, which grew many times over
several years. "Today, we should pay attention to the quality of
communication", the minister said.

According to Director of the Enterprises Incubator Foundation of
Armenia Bagrat Yengibaryan, Internet availability in Armenia makes
up 10-15%. The government is going to increase this indicator to
100% in the next 3-4 years. Internet availability in Armenia is the
lowest in the region: in Georgia, for example, it makes up 25% and
in Azerbaijan – 30%, he said.

International Telecommunication Union was created in 1965. Its
includes 191 countries and 700 private companies. Armenia joined this
organization in 1992.