OREANDA-NEWS. On May 04, 2008 Kazakhtelecom JSC (Astana), shares of which are traded in the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) category "A" official list, provided to KASE the press-release of the following content, reported the press-centre of KASE:

From March 24 to April 24, 2008, in Kyzyl Orda Region took place several cases of theft of the main fiber optical cable. The leading operator of Kazakhstan telecommunication Kazakhtelecom JSC informs that the cable thefts are illegal and dangerous for people's life and lead to the communication quality loss and the external Internet traffic. Moreover, intruders often doe not know that fiber optical cable does not contain a precious metal, in particular copper.

The reason of such criminal actions is the theft aimed at profit, namely – taking the metal into the receiving centers for payment. The modern technologies are based on application of fiber optical cable, which replaced the copper cable. Kazakhtelecom JSC explains that fiber optical cable does not contain a metal.

From March 24 to April 24, took place 7 cases of theft of the main fiber optical cable on various sites of Western fiber optical cable of Kyzyl Orda Region.

Due to this occurred the loss of quality of trunk and international communication in clients of Kazakhtelecom JSC. Disabling of the main line in Kyzyl Orda Region significantly damages communication with Western Regions of Kazakhstan (Aktobe, Kyzyl Orda, Uralsk, Atyrau), and impedes the transit connection of Russia with Central Asian countries. In addition, Internet connection quality becomes worse.

At present, all damages are liquidated; Kazakhtelecom JSC undertook all measures on restoration of communication capacity and provision of quality services to its clients.

Theft and damaging of the cable happens due to the existing demand for precious metals and possible legal selling of cable products in the points of receiving of precious metals.

Kazakhtelecom JSC considers that it is necessary to explain this situation to the population in order to prevent the cable theft, and insists on implementation by the appropriate institutions of check ups of the existing receiving points for telecommunication elements equipment.