GENERAL DIRECTOR OF "ARMENTEL" STATED THAT "RENUNCIATION OF MONOPOLY WILL NOT HAVE A STRONG INFLUENCE OF OUR COMPANY"
Mediamax Agency, Armenia
April 18 2007
Yerevan, April 18 /Mediamax/. The Commission on Regulation of Public
Services (CRPS) of Armenia met today the request of "ArmenTel"
Company, prolonging up to June 30 of 2007 the term of fulfillment of
the commitments, provided for by the license N60.
Mediamax reports that, presenting today during the session of CRPS the
report on the fulfillment of commitments, provided for by the license
N60, the Director for Regulation of "ArmenTel" CJSC Hayk Faramazian
noted that the Company on the whole fulfilled its license commitments
on installation of telephones of settlements.
Hayk Faramazian, in particular, noted that in late 2006 "ArmenTel"
put into operation the CDMA network for digitalization of telephone
communication of 800 village communities, however, the realization
of the program somewhat delayed because of hold-ups whole porting
base stations of CDMA to the communication center in Yerevan.
Hayk Faramazian informed that at present, 400 villages have quality
digital telephone communication due to the CDMA technology, and the
whole number of villages, which are provided with communication,
makes 500.
As a conclusion, the Director for Regulation of "ArmenTel" stated that
the terms of the fulfillment of the project were also influenced by
the severe climatic conditions in late fall and winter, as well as the
process of the change of owners of the Company, which was accompanied
by deceleration of supplies and mounting of the equipment.
As an administrative measure, the CRPS made a decision today to
increase the number of villages, which should be provided with digital
telephone connection, up to 810.
The General Director of "ArmenTel" Oleg Bliznyuk stated today that
"the renunciation of monopoly will not have strong influence on our
company, which is ready for healthy competition".
Mediamax reports that Oleg Bliznyuk stated today that until "ArmenTel"
renounces the monopoly rights for fixed telephone communication,
all the license commitments of the company will be fulfilled.
According to him, the request, presented to the Commission on
Regulation of Public Services of Armenia, on prolongation of the
terms of fulfillment of commitments, provided for by the license,
was reasoned by the fact that "the Company did not correctly estimate
its physical abilities during the winter and did not manage to mount
the necessary equipment".
The General Director of "ArmenTel" expressed confidence that in the
nearest future the work on the license commitments will be concluded.
At present, there are about 1mln subscribers in the regions of Armenia
in the zone of CDMA coverage, Oleg Bliznyuk stated.
The General Director of "ArmenTel" described as "unjustified and
aggressive" the behavior of the defenders of consumers’ rights, who
were discontent by the decision of the Commission on Regulation of
Public Services (CRPS), which met the request on prolongation of the
term for fulfillment of commitments, provided for by the license N60.
Answering the question of Mediamax today, Oleg Bliznyuk stated that the
leadership of "ArmenTel" twice held meetings with the representative
of NGOs, involved in protection of the rights of consumers. The Head of
the Company stressed that "ArmenTel" always strives to reach consensus
with the NGOs.
Oleg Bliznyuk stated that at present the only discord with the
defenders of consumers’ rights is the issue of the debts, which formed
as a result of the phenomenon, when the virus programs, which had
entered the computers of a number of consumers, initiated unapproved
international calls during the use of internet connection.
At that, the General Director noted, at present "ArmenTel" considers
the opportunities to restructure the debts of 400 subscribers.
Speaking during the session of CRPS today, the Chairman of the Union
of Consumers’ Rights Protection Armen Poghosyan stated that "ArmenTel"
did not fulfill its license commitments, and the Commission should
apply the corresponding sanctions. Armen Poghosyan, in particular,
proposed to revoke the license from "ArmenTel" and to cut down the
tariffs for its services.
The expert of the Union of Consumers’ Rights Hakop Gharabekian stated
that the actions of "ArmenTel" are contrary to the social policy of
the Armenian authorities, and the Company is guided exclusively by
its own interests. According to the expert, the CRPS should have
postponed the consideration of the request of "ArmenTel" and give
opportunity to organize public hearings.
Commenting on these statements, the General Director of "ArmenTel" Oleg
Bliznyuk stated that "the process of digitalization of 800 villages
costs much more than the license N60, and it is tactless to accuse
us of not supporting the policy of the authorities of the country".
The Chairman of CRPS Robert Nazarian also described as "groundless"
the accusations and recommended the sides to organize monthly meetings
for the discussion of "sore subjects" and inform the Commission on
the results.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
