OREANDA-NEWS. March 23, 2009. An Addendum to the current Agreement of Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Komi and OJSC North-West Telecom on the prospects of telecommunication s development in the region for 2009 was signed in Syktyvkar. It was signed by V. A. Torlopov, the Head of Republic of Komi, and V.A. Akulich, General Manager of OJSC North-West Telecom.

According to the Addendum to the Agreement, OJSC North-West Telecom has undertaken to invest at least 450 million roubles in the development and renovation of the communication network s of the Republic of Komi. In 2009, the construction of fibre-optic communication lines will continue in the region, including the Ukhta-Vuktyl and Ukhta-Troitsko-Pechyorsk sections; the construction of   the intraareal trunk line Syktyvkar-Ust-Kulom- Ukhta (in the Ust-Kulom – Pomozdino section) will start. Expansion of the multi-service network by at least 25,000 хDSL ports is planned. Besides, the construction of a broadband access network using the new PON technology will be started. Almost 10,000 ports are to be put into operation .

The Head of Republic of Komi expressed gratitude to the management of OJSC North-West Telecom and the Komi Branch of OJSC N.W.Telecom for the excellent work in 2008 and noted that "by actively supporting the development of telecommunications in our northern region, we create prerequisites for the economic growth, for supporting stability in the financial sector and for continuing the social reforms. With each passing year, the telecommunication structure of the Republic is using more new technologies , the range and quality of its services expanding and improving. Therefore, the signed Addendum to the Agreement of Cooperation for 2009 confirms the interest of the Government of the Republic in joint work with OJSC North-West Telecom."

In his turn, V.A. Akulich, General Manager of OJSC North-West Telecom, assured the Government of the Republic that "...in spite of the economic crisis, the volume of investment in the development of the telecommunication infrastructure of the Republic will not be reduced. Komi is one of the most rapidly developing regions of the North-West. Therefore, OJSC N.W. Telecom is planning active construction and provision of the most up-to-date communication services here".