OREANDA-NEWS. On 26 August 2009 was announced, that in July 2009 Sibirtelecom started to transfer stations serving universal paystations to own Central terrestrial station of VSAT network or the so-called hub. In the near future the Company plans to stop leasing satellite channels for providing universal services in the Siberian region and further also for satellite Internet services rendered for rural schools.

Sibirtelecom has prepared for this event for 2 years. In April this year the hub was constructed in Irkutsk where the Company started to transfer terminal stations and gateway equipment used for providing a universal service. The project implementation makes it possible to optimize the expenses for satellite channel lease, as well as to avoid technical problems with the unstable satellite signal reception in providing universal services. As it was mentioned earlier, Express AM-2 satellite that was used to establish connection for these services has had energy-saving problems since spring of 2009.  It operates 6 hours a day, which interferes with continuous providing universal services via satellite channels. The transition of telecommunication equipment to control of own terrestrial station using VSAT technology will enable the Company to provide quality and reliable paystation connection.

At present over 500 stations out of 1161 serviced ones by resources leased from outside operators of cosmic communication were transferred under control of Irkutsk terrestrial station.  In the future Sibirtelecom also  plans to route Internet traffic via own hub for remote rural schools that are now provided with communication via leased satellite channels.

“Due to the construction of the central terrestrial station in Irkutsk, Sibirtelecom may terminate the lease of the satellite resource and save up to 8.3 mln every month, - mentioned Anatoly Grib, Technical Director of Sibirtelecom OJSC, - we also established a technological base for providing traditional and Internet services of the Company in hard-to-reach areas.  For example, a new terrestrial station of Sibirtelecom will provide quality service to geologists and oil-industry workers who work together in hard-to-reach areas remote from settlements".

The project for the construction of the VSAT network terrestrial station in Irkutsk costs 90 mln rubles.  The Company plans to complete the transfer of the equipment to own network until the end of 2009.