OREANDA-NEWS. On July 24, 2007 the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev within his working visit to Akmolinskaya oblast has visited the Regional Telecommunications Administration (RTA) of Akmolonskaya oblast – JSC Kazakhtelecom’s branch in the city of Kokshetau, reported the press-centre of RTA.  

President took part in the solemn ceremony of opening of the new administrative building of RTA of Akmolinskaya oblast. Within this event JSC Kazakhtelecom’s President Askar Zhumagaliyev has brought to the attention of the head of our state the innovation projects implemented by the company at present.

Priority projects of JSC Kazakhtelecom’s development for the near-term prospect are the development of backbone networks, modernization and development of local telecommunication networks. In 2007 the great volume of investments are planned to be allocated to the modernization and development of telecommunication networks – KZT 56,3 billion, exceeding the sum of 2006 by almost KZT 17,5 billion. At the same time, investments in the development of mobile communication of subsidiaries and information technologies are planned to be increased.

One of the most important investment projects is the continuation of construction of the National Data Network on the basis of fiber optic cable and dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM). Implementation of this project will allow considerable increase of carrying capacity of the National Information Superbackbone (NISB). This network covers all regional centers of the Republic of Kazakhstan and serves as the transport environment for communication of all types of traffic – voice, video, data and ensures required quality of servicing. Implementation of this project allowed promotion of creation of “digital state”, formation of infrastructure for E-Government and formation of “information society”.

At present all major cities of Kazakhstan are connected by means of digital channels. Metro Ethernet data networks are constructed in all regional centers and major cities with carrying capacity up to 1 Gbps and in major cities – up to 10 Gbps. Implementation of these projects allows implementation of new services based on IP technologies (Internet Telephony).

To activate the development of domestic market of Internet services JSC Kazakhtelecom offers to create unified platform for provision of Internet/Intranet services in the scales of the Republic - Internet Data Center. Internet Data Center is the data processing center which provides a wide range of modern information and telecommunication services.

Moreover, with the aim to create conditions for the rapid development of Kazakhstan Internet segment and ensuring equal access of all providers to the content resources, the work on creation of the National Internet Traffic Exchange Center – Peering Center – has been started. Peering allows shortening of routes of information packages communication and decrease of traffic costs. Creation of local and national traffic exchange centers will allow avoiding of usage of long-distant and international communication channels for communication of information between different Internet providers of one city or country. Moreover, peering allows Internet providers to offer free local traffic.

Aim of Peering Center creation is the ensuring of maximal connectivity of Kazakhstan providers’ networks and organization of the effective traffic exchange between them using shortest routes without usage of foreign networks. Creation of Traffic Exchange Network will allow considerable decrease of expenses of its participants and expand the possibilities of their medium and small-scaled business.

JSC Kazakhtelecom continues construction of the Next Generation Network (NGN). NGN is the universal multi-purpose network aimed for voice, video and data communication via one communication line (Triple Play technology). Actually NGN is the result of Internet and telephone networks merging.

In 2006 the next generation network for transition of long-distant traffic was created and covered all Automatic Long-Distant Switching Centers of the republic. It is the firs next generation network of such scales in CIS countries. In 2006 JSC Kazakhtelecom has completed works on installation and testing of equipment of NGN’s backbone network, as well as NGN networks in Almaty. The first stage of NGN construction on the left bank of Ishim river in Astana was put into the trial operation. NGN networks were also put into the trial operation in such cities as Pavlodar, Karaganda and Taraz. This year NGN projects will be implemented in the cities of Taldykorgan, Petropavlovsk, Ust-Kamenogorsk and Shymkent. By the end of 2009 the construction of local NGN is planned almost in all regional centers.

With the aim to organize high-tech wireless access the company continues construction of the broadband wireless networks Wi-Fi. This standard allows provision of high-speed access to all Internet resources from laptops, pocket computers, web-cameras and wireless IP telephones in the area of Wi-Fi network coverage. The first stage of this project was completed in 2006 in Almaty. During this and next years Wi-Fi networks are planned to be constructed in all regional centers of the republic. In 2009-2011 the project will be developed in proportion to the increase of demands for the wireless Internet service.

For telephonization of non-telephonized rural settlements and modernization of analogue COs in the sparsely populated rural areas JSC Kazakhtelecom will widely use CDMA-450 wireless communication technology.

To increase the level of availability of telecommunication services for population the company regularly reviews tariffs. In particular, tariffs for international calls to the foreign countries have been averagely decreased twofold, the fee for connection of legal entities to the telephone network have been decreased in 4 times. Tariffs for the service on leasing of telephone cable run for operators have been decreased in more than 2 times. Tariffs for connections from the local telecommunication network to the network of mobile operators have been decreased by 17%.

Tariffs for Internet access services for ISP have been decreased almost threefold. Tariffs for dial-up Internet access services have been decreased in 2,4 times, for broadband Internet access service “Megaline Hit” – almost in 6 times. Dial-up Internet access service “Kazakhstan Internet” is provided to the schools of the Republic of Kazakhstan free of charge. Company intends to continue the pursuance of flexible tariff policy in future.

To satisfy current demand for installation of telephones the company plans together with the traditional line and cable facilities to use wireless access technology WLL. Almost 30% of installations will be made by means of WLL. In future CDMA technologies are also planned to be used.

Together with implementation of business-projects JSC Kazakhtelecom actively solves different social tasks. For the last several years the company invested in telephonization and modernization of rural communication: in 2000 - KZT 278 million, in 2001 – KZT 325 million, in 2002 – KZT 588 million, in 2003 – KZT 1 050 million, in 2004 – KZT 1 127 million, in 2005 – KZT 2 064 million, in 2006 – KZT 3 503 million, in 2007 – KZT 7 975 million.

Pursuant to the Address of Kazakhstan’s President to population, in 2007-2008 telephonization of 354 settlements with more than 50 citizens is planned. Telephonization of all rural settlements is planned to be completed by the end of 2009.

Important aspect of social and society-oriented tasks of the company is the provision of broadband Internet access to Kazakhstani schools. At present there are 7 785 schools in the republic and Internet access is available in 94% of them. 6 108 schools use dial-up Internet access, the speed of which doesn’t exceed 56 Kbps. 1200 schools use ADSL Internet access, the speed of which is determined by the customer and makes up from 64 up to 512 Kbps. Within implementation of “Interactive school” project on provision of broadband Internet access with the speed of 512 Kbps, the broadband Internet access is planned to be provided to all Kazakhstani schools by the September 01, 2008.

To realize JSC Kazakhtelecom’s transit potential the company actively works under creation of inter-operator alliance with operators of Russia and China. With this aim in view, the company planned modernization of existing and construction of new interfaces with foreign operators’ networks in 2007. The entrance into the telecommunication markets of Russia, China and Central Asia countries is planned. These arrangements will allow JSC Kazakhtelecom to become the competent transnational operator, which provides qualitative and cheap transit of traffic for international operators in the direction Asia-Europe and to position itself on the world telecommunication market as the integral connecting link between Europe and Asia.