Armenia is most open country for innovation in region:Wojciech Biden

12:09, 12 March, 2015

YEREVAN-BARCELONA, 12 MARCH, ARMENPRESS: Among the countries of the
former Soviet Union, Armenia occupies a special place in the
development of the digital sphere, because in the sector of
technological modernization there is a huge support from the
Government. The operators of portable networks in Armenia quickly
respond to the market demands and global innovations. The director of
Ericsson Company’s pivotal clients work Wojciech Biden stated this in
an interview to “Armenpress”.- How do You evaluate the activities of
Ericsson Company in Armenia in recent 6 years?

– The Armenian market is quite interesting to us, and there we were
able to carry out a successful operation in the various fields. All
began in 2009, when we set the basis of cooperation with Ucom Company,
helping the company to invest in new IP television system. As Armenia
today, we are cooperating with almost all mobile operators in the
country. Today in Armenia we are almost collaborating with the all
mobile operators. In the territory of Armenia we don’t cooperate only
with Orange, but in global level Ericsson is the preferred partner of
Orange.

– What programs do you carry out jointly with the Armenian Government?

– At this moment, we have been cooperating with the Government of the
Republic of Armenia in two projects sectors; those are electronic
healthcare and digitization of television. The implementation of two
projects we’ve got by taking part and winning the public competitions.
At the moment, the electronic health plan based on our customers and
mutual agreement is temporarily slow, which is conditioned by
purchasing equipment and implementing documentation works.

Next year, in January the pilot project will begin, followed by the
program of commercial exploitation in the Republic. By this system the
doctor will be able to see the visitor through the visitor’s
healthcare story, as well as send the prescription to pharmacy closer
to the house of visitor, where the employee will be able to give the
right medicine and the appropriate dose, which is assigned by the
doctor.

– How easy it would be to implement such a system in Armenia, taking
into account that every doctor should be compelled to buy a computer
or tablet?

– In fact, the technique is not a problem; because this program is
possible to use even in the cheapest tablet. During the importation of
this system our biggest challenge is not the purchase of equipment or
any other technical problem, but the doctors are reluctant to work
with the new system and many of them are from elder generation and
avoid having a work with a computer or tablet.

– The launch of digital TV in Armenia is announced that will be held
this year in the beginning of July. Is it realistic, regarding the
country’s geographical peculiarities?

– The analogical TV digitization program will enable all regions of
the country to solve the digitization of television, which assumes to
include from Yerevan to the highland villages. Last November, we
implemented the first signal transmission testing and last
implementation phase of work will start in spring, in order to start
the operation of digital television on July, in Armenia. As a result
of that the television broadcast quality will be at the same level in
Yerevan and mountainous areas.

– Beside the aforesaid programs, in Armenia, in which sector can be
expected the implantation of projects?

– As I said, the most open country in the region towards innovation is
Armenia, because the government realizes their importance and
allocates remedies for the implementation. Such an each program
requires a minimum investment of several million dollars, which pays
the government.

I think that it will be interesting to apply in Armenia the Estonian
version, where was created smart meter energy-saving system, that in
advance by planning switches the washing machine or dishwasher
machine, as well as gives the ability to avoid some of the problems,
which are arising during the measurement of energy bills. We also
think that the importation of elements of “smart city” will be
interesting to the Yerevan Municipality, which can be implemented
through a joint program with the operators. Over the next two years or
until 2018 we will witness many innovations.

Interview by Anahit Minasyan