OREANDA-NEWS. July 31, 2007. The first point of telephone communication universal services provision in Novgorod Oblast – a universal servicing payphone – was opened in the village of Korostyn of Shimsky District.

Governor of the Region Mikhail Prusak, Head of Shimsky Municipal District Yevgeny Zhilin, Head of the Village Yekaterina Mikhailova, Regional Director of Novgorod Branch, North-West Telecom JSC Nikolay Yemelyanov and employees of the Branch and residents of the village of Korostyn took part in the opening ceremony.

Governor of Novgorod Oblast Mikhail Prusak made the first call from the universal servicing payphone: he spoke to General Manager of North-West Telecom Vladimir Akulich.

In his address the Governor appreciated the work of the Novgorod division and wished its workers a successful implementation of this important social project.

The Regional Director of Novgorod Branch, North-West Telcom said in his complimentary address that a "payphone in the village of Korostyn is "first sign". In the year to come North-West Telecom will provide telephone communication via universal servicing payphones to all settlements of Novgorod Oblast. This is a complicated task, which OJSC N.W. Telecom is implementing in active cooperation with the regional authorities. Fulfilling the requirements of the Law "On Communication" and understanding that communication services must be available to each resident of Russia, specialists of the Novgorod Branch will do their best to handle the task within the required time".

The opening of the universal servicing payphone was accompanied by a concert of a folk song ensemble and became a real holiday for the villagers.

In February 2007 North-West Telecom JSC was recognized the winner of the competition for the right of providing universal telephone communication services using payphones in the territory of Novgorod Oblast. According to the terms of the competition, 1832 payphones will be installed in 1811 settlements in Novgorod Oblast in 2007-2008.

Universal servicing payphones will be  installed in convenient public places according to the requirements and rules of providing universal communication services. A distinguishing feature of such payphones is that they can be used not only to give a phone call – a free incoming call can be received by them, too.

RUR 100 payment cards are used to pay for the telephone communication universal services provided via payphones. Such cards can be bought at clients servicing centers of the Novgorod Branch of NWT JSC and at any post office of the region or from a postman.

The rate for local telephone connections via universal use payphones established by the Federal Communication Agency is RUR 0.45 per minute in Novgorod Oblast. Long-distance and international telephone communication services via such payphones are provided at the rates of telecommunication operators.