Yerevan /Mediamax/. Interview of the “VimpelCom” OJSC Commercial Director for CIS states Anton Telegin to Mediamax Agency and Banks.am portal

- On February 8, it was announced that Ericsson and “ArmenTel” signed a contract for building a convergent network of next generation (NGN) in Armenia on the basis of IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) solution. It was noted that after building the new network, “ArmenTel” will be able to offer the subscribers convergent services, the access to which will be realized both from the fixed and mobile networks. If possible, can you bring some examples of such convergent services?

- There are various models of convergent services. The networks of next generation allow the mobile, internet and standard voice services to use same parts of the network repeatedly. This is done in a way that instead of having three various networks, it is possible to have only one. This allows the companies elaborating services, which will not be dependent on the equipment, used for making and receiving a call.

For example, sitting at home, the subscriber may receive an incoming call to his home telephone number, and when he goes out, he receives the same call (to the same number) by his mobile telephone. Being out of GSM coverage, he will receive the call through IP to its PC, notebook or IP telephone.

The number of internet-calls, made through mobile phones, will increase. The computers will play a big role in provision of information to the subscribers, concerning calls; will inform the subscribers on the cost of the real time of the call realized. The use of video on computers and mobile phones will also rise. One voicemail will meet all the mobile, fixed and internet needs. The subscribers will have the possibility of choice – to listen to their voicemail, or read it on the screen. The telephones will be functioning like computers, and the computers – like telephones.

The European experience shows that people like to buy a complete package of services from one provider and receive a single account for all the services – fixed and mobile connection services, internet and entertainment.

- Will the new network in Armenia be built, taking into account the existing international experience, or will this be the first project of this kind? Some time ago, the Vice-President of “VimpelCom” Sergey Avdeyev said: “we are yet cautious about this idea, since there are not especially bright examples of convergence in the world: there are many talks and not much sense yet”.

- Of course, talks on convergent services on NGN networks have been going on for a long time already, and many companies this way or another considered such projects. At present, the majority of new networks are constructed as networks of next generation, since they offer increasing functionality and cost cheaper in operation. The networks allow subscribers to use new services, which develop very quickly.

From the realized projects, which only offer partial convergence, we can recall, probably, the Spanish Telefonica, where it is possible to send SMS from the fixed telephone and receive access to your personalized phonebook from any telephone. The French Orange provides the subscribers access to internet with the same log-in on EDGE/3G/ADSL/Wi-Fi technologies.

- In February 2007, the General Director of “VimpelCom” Aleksandr Izosimov said: “we bought “ArmenTel” with the fixed connection to understand whether it is worthy to participate in the given business further or not”. Does the decision on building a new network in Armenia mean that in case it is successful, the given model may be used in other countries as well?

- The Armenian experience may be used in other countries, if it proves efficient and is demanded in the market. We are sure that the subscribers want to receive telecommunications services from one operator with the provision of one account and one telephone number. Be believed that “ArmenTel” will offer a modern network, leaving behind many countries of the region and will make a big advance from the old network to one of the most modern ones in the world.

- Is it possible to day that the broadband internet access is one of the priorities of ArmenTel business?

- Indeed, the broadband internet access is one of the most important and priority direction of development of our business in Armenia. This is the key to information society, which is a very important factor for the further efficient activity of the country. Besides, this makes the business more effective and provides unlimited benefits to the subscribers.