OREANDA-NEWS. On 29 May 2008 VolgaTelecom said its base of broadband Internet customers reached 500,000, with 84.4% of the subscribers covered by the J brand. The company expects to hook up the 500,000th Internet user this July.

VolgaTelecom CEO Sergey Omelchenko said “the promotion of high-speed Internet services will remain our priority. First and foremost, we target conquering a considerable share of this market. According to our estimates, at present VolgaTelecom commands around 60% of the market in the Volga Federal District. Taking into account the changes taking place in the market and also VolgaTelecom’s technical and marketing possibilities, I am confident that the company will manage to attain all its targets and bolster its leadership position on the BI and datacom market. In the past three years the operator has invested in BI and datacom networks a total of Rub 1.8 bln and 2008 investments are projected at Rub 2.1 bln”.

Broadband Internet services are provided to households using ADSL technology under the J brand that was introduced on the market in mid-May 2006 at all 11 branches of VolgaTelecom. As connection statistics show, the service is in big demand on the target market and at present it is being promoted at a rapid pace. As of late April 2008 the Nizhny Novgorod branch’s J Internet subscribers came to 100,000, those in the Samara and Saratov regions equal over 64,000 and 48,000, respectively. Higher connection figures were reported by all the company’s branches.

The 3-fold increase in BI users against early 2007 became possible thanks to new marketing initiatives that the operator worked out, the introduction of advanced sales and service techniques and the promotion of new tariff plans. Most branches of the company cancelled J connection fees and discounted modem lease rates were offered. Substantial expansion was seen in the number of points of sale where inhabitants from 11 regions of the Volga Federal District can sign up for broadband Internet services. Furthermore, new options were introduced to pay for Internet access (J) services, to be more precise, with e-payment terminals Oplata.ru.

The advantages of the broadband Internet services provided by VolgaTelecom are a free telephone line, a broad coverage area, diverse tariff plans and the possibility to sign up for additional options and advanced telecommunications services via a standard fixed line. Complete information about the broadband Internet service promoted under the J brand can be viewed on the special web portal: www.jdsl.ru.