Karabakh telecom company to provide high quality services in Armenia – minister
Ayots Ashkar, Yerevan
9 Nov 04
Naturally, society is closely watching the last government decisions
in the sphere of communications. Especially as, the government
took a decision to endorse the results of a tender, and K-Telekom
join-stock company will be given a licence for mobile communications,
including GSM services. Many people ask about when will it start
operating? Armenian Transport and Communication Minister Andranik
Manukyan answered this and other questions yesterday [8 November].
[Correspondent] Mr Manukyan, how was the tender on giving licence
for the mobile communications services held?
[Manukyan] A tender commission was set up under the government
decision on 3 November. The government may create commissions in
extreme cases. The commission was authorized to organize a tender,
the results of which had to be endorsed by the government. According
to the regulations established by the commission, a candidate company
was selected to comply with the rules established by the commission
and meet offered requirements.
It is known that K-Telekom, a subsidiary of Karabakh Telekom
[telecommunications company operating in Nagornyy Karabakh], was
selected. Before the government meeting, on 4 November the tender
commission made a unanimous decision to recognize this company
winner. The results of the tender were submitted to the government
and the latter endorsed them. I see nothing bad here. Everything was
done within the framework of law.
[Passage omitted: K-Telecom will provide high quality services]
[Correspondent] Why are you sure that “K-Telekom” can manage this
sphere?
[Manukyan] First, we should take into account that in a short
period of time, i.e. about four months after getting a licence,
Karabakh Telekom established the high quality mobile communications
system in Karabakh. Moreover, experts note that the quality of the
communications services provided by Karabakh Telekom is several
times higher that the services provided by ArmenTel [Armenian
telecommunications company]. I am sure that in Armenia, K-Telekom
will set up its mobile network in a short period of time as well
and provide the high quality communications services. In addition,
the prices will be cheaper than that of ArmenTel’s.
[Passage omitted: details of K-Telecom’s operational project]