The Government of South Ossetia and a joint stock company (JSC) "Ostelekom” signed an agreement on cooperation, told Leonid Lebedev, the representative of the open joint stock company (JSC) "MegaFon" (the main shareholder of Ostelekom), at a press-conference in Tskhinvali.
"The document is very important for both parties. We agreed on a joint work to develop the telecommunications field in the country. The agreement also states that the tariff and the commercial policy of the company "Ostelekom" will be formed based on the views of the Government of South Ossetia, as well as the needs and capacities of the population. Our main objective is the creation of affordable, quality telecommunications services. We are fully aware of the today’s situation in the Republic, and our goal is not to earn much money, but to build up a modern communications system to promote the development of the society ", he said.
According to him, under this agreement, "Ostelekom" undertook certain obligations in the development of telecommunications in the country.
"This year, the " Ostelekom " will run about 20 additional base stations. It's almost a doubling of the current core network.
In addition, this year we will start to build a fiber optic line from Russia. This will provide us with a future opportunity to have high-speed Internet in South Ossetia ", - he explained.
He said that in 2010 300 million rouble were invested in the development of Ostelekom networks, and in view of plans to build a fiber-optic lines that amount will be increased.
"Until the end of this year we will cover with 2G network a territory with 65% of the population. By the end of next year 2G-network will cover the territory, where over 95% of the population resides. In connection with this, extensive construction of third generation networks will start, which until the end of 2012 will provide 90% of the population with high-speed Internet ", said Lebedev.
According to him, for the period from March to July 2010 "Osetelekom"’ s tax revenues to the state budget of South Ossetia reached15 million rubles, about the same amount will be collected before the end of the year.
”Ostelekom” is the first mobile GSM 900/1800 provider on the territory of South Ossetia. The company was founded in 2004.
A full-scale network of "Ostelekom" was launched in April 2010 after all rehabilitation wokrs have been completed. This allows the company to provide its subscribers with a quality mobile connection throughout the country.
Since March 1, 2010 “Ostelekom" provides communication services under the name of the first -Russian mobile provider MegaFon.
